William had never met his father, and was taken from his mother and placed in a group home by the Brazilian Child Welfare Authorities when he was eight. A broken childhood instilled in him a deep and lifelong desire to heal people—and Vida Jovem helped him to bring that desire to fruition. Vida Jovem did more than provide for his living expenses and give him a family--it extended a full scholarship to São Camilo University, where he studied healthcare and graduated as a Registered Nurse. He later went on to graduate school and took Intensive Care Nursing and is now taking Education. During his university studies he was one of the tutors to the Vida Jovem children, teaching them English and other subjects. He became their role model. Besides his regular work on the teaching staff of the Higher School for Nursing and Healthcare Tableau, he is also a Red Cross rescue worker volunteer. His relationship skills earned him an invitation to refound the Rotaract Ipiranga (Rotary for the young), where he soon became president and was just reelected.   In 2010 Willian joined the Board of Vida Jovem.

Luciano lived at Vida Jovem for 5 years during his teens. When he finished high school, he started working in the financial area of the main office of Pão de Açúcar, Brazil´s largest supermarket chain. There he was an outstanding employee and competed actively in the internal job postings, earning numerous promotions with ever-increasing responsibility. When he perceived the need to learn more to get ahead, he sought out Vida Jovem and requested its support in the form of a scholarship in order to study Business Administration. He took the entrance exam and was admitted to FMU University. During the next 6 years he worked full-time during the day and studied at night until he graduated. Today Luciano is a successful real estate broker with one of the largest real estate companies in São Paulo.

 

Erick lived in a Vida Jovem home until he turned 15. He left to work to help support his family. He did all kinds of odd jobs, including as a night security guard. When Vida Jovem Board member, Jardelino Bernardi, discovered that Erick lived in Guarulhos, the same city where his book printing plant operates, Jardelino interviewed him and decided to bet on him. Erick has been working at Editora Gráfica Bernardi since 2006. There he is an assistant printer and operates huge imported machinery of top tech. Erick was required to study intensely to learn this new career. And, thanks to the company’s policies, he has taken regular professional courses to stay on top of the latest changes in the printing industry. He has started his own family; he is married and has a daughter. Erick and his family actively participate in Vida Jovem´s events and workshops.

 

Gilmara, abandoned at three, dehydrated and utterly alone, wandered into a free clinic, and was then sent to the Social Welfare Agencies who placed her in a group home. At twelve, she was forced from the home and again was left alone on the streets. She heard about Vida Jovem and joined one of the homes that provided her with a family that gave her the support and opportunities her natural talents and mind needed to soar. She finished high school in 2002 and then stayed with Vida Jovem as an assistant to the house mother. In 2004, she took the entrance exam for university and was accepted to the São Marcos University to study early childhood education. At the university she decided that she wanted to dedicate herself to helping others just as she was herself helped. When she left the university and went to work as a care provider to the children of SOS Children’s Villages, an international children’s services agency that operates group homes for children. 

 

Deivid was nine when his father died in a street brawl. His mother had long since disappeared from her son’s life. He went to live with his grandmother, who peddled food items from a stall on the street to support herself and Deivid. Then illness left her unable to work. Deivid seemed destined for a life on the streets. Luckily, a relative knew of Vida Jovem, and helped Deivid join the program. Within the Vida Jovem family, Deivid thrived. He was admitted to the prestigious São Francisco Xavier private school and there became the school soccer star and further excelled in music. While in high school he became fascinated by international trade. He was determined to learn English and develop his career. With the help of some of Vida Jovem´s supporters who recognized his potential, he went to Richland College in Dallas, Texas where he initially studied English and later International Relations. In May, 2011 he will complete his Associate Degree. His grades have continuously placed him on the Dean’s List and his grade point average is among the highest in the school. He hopes to be able to continue his studies to finish his baccalaureate degree and later return to Brazil to help those who did not have the same opportunities as he did.

 

Gláucia and Mislene, sisters, arrived at Vida Jovem at 11 and 4 years of age. Their mother had died on Christmas Day and their father suffered from intense pain and was unable to take care of them. The Social Welfare Agencies sent them to Vida Jovem. Mislene passed the entrance exam to the São Francisco Xavier private school and was always a very dedicated student. After graduating from high school,  Gláucia left Vida Jovem and worked in telemarketing and prepared herself for the rigorous university entrance exam. In 2009 Mislene finished high school too and passed the university entrance exam on the first try. Today they live together, work part-time and study; Glaucia does psychology at UNIP and plans to work one day in HR. Mislene is majoring in advertising at UniNove and is keen to work in an advertising agency.

 

Mycarla lived for 8 years at Vida Jovem. When she was 9, a brain tumor was detected. Thanks to the Vida Jovem network, Mycarla received the best possible treatment and recovered completely from her surgery. She returned to live with her mother at 15 but stayed in contact with Vida Jovem that supported her with complementary education in IT and English. Today she studies psychology at UNIP University on a full scholarship provided by the VJ program and works part-time for her upkeep. Her long term goal is to work as a pediatric psychologist so she can help children as she was.

William had never met his father, and was taken from his mother and placed in a group home by the Brazilian Child Welfare Authorities when he was eight. A broken childhood instilled in him a deep and lifelong desire to heal people—and Vida Jovem helped him to bring that desire to fruition. Vida Jovem did more than provide for his living expenses and give him a family--it extended a full scholarship to São Camilo University, where he studied healthcare and graduated as a Registered Nurse. He later went on to graduate school and took Intensive Care Nursing and is now taking Education. During his university studies he was one of the tutors to the Vida Jovem children, teaching them English and other subjects. He became their role model. Besides his regular work on the teaching staff of the Higher School for Nursing and Healthcare Tableau, he is also a Red Cross rescue worker volunteer. His relationship skills earned him an invitation to refound the Rotaract Ipiranga (Rotary for the young), where he soon became president and was just reelected.   In 2010 Willian joined the Board of Vida Jovem.

Luciano lived at Vida Jovem for 5 years during his teens. When he finished high school, he started working in the financial area of the main office of Pão de Açúcar, Brazil´s largest supermarket chain. There he was an outstanding employee and competed actively in the internal job postings, earning numerous promotions with ever-increasing responsibility. When he perceived the need to learn more to get ahead, he sought out Vida Jovem and requested its support in the form of a scholarship in order to study Business Administration. He took the entrance exam and was admitted to FMU University. During the next 6 years he worked full-time during the day and studied at night until he graduated. Today Luciano is a successful real estate broker with one of the largest real estate companies in São Paulo.

 

Erick lived in a Vida Jovem home until he turned 15. He left to work to help support his family. He did all kinds of odd jobs, including as a night security guard. When Vida Jovem Board member, Jardelino Bernardi, discovered that Erick lived in Guarulhos, the same city where his book printing plant operates, Jardelino interviewed him and decided to bet on him. Erick has been working at Editora Gráfica Bernardi since 2006. There he is an assistant printer and operates huge imported machinery of top tech. Erick was required to study intensely to learn this new career. And, thanks to the company’s policies, he has taken regular professional courses to stay on top of the latest changes in the printing industry. He has started his own family; he is married and has a daughter. Erick and his family actively participate in Vida Jovem´s events and workshops.

 

Gilmara, abandoned at three, dehydrated and utterly alone, wandered into a free clinic, and was then sent to the Social Welfare Agencies who placed her in a group home. At twelve, she was forced from the home and again was left alone on the streets. She heard about Vida Jovem and joined one of the homes that provided her with a family that gave her the support and opportunities her natural talents and mind needed to soar. She finished high school in 2002 and then stayed with Vida Jovem as an assistant to the house mother. In 2004, she took the entrance exam for university and was accepted to the São Marcos University to study early childhood education. At the university she decided that she wanted to dedicate herself to helping others just as she was herself helped. When she left the university and went to work as a care provider to the children of SOS Children’s Villages, an international children’s services agency that operates group homes for children. 

 

Deivid was nine when his father died in a street brawl. His mother had long since disappeared from her son’s life. He went to live with his grandmother, who peddled food items from a stall on the street to support herself and Deivid. Then illness left her unable to work. Deivid seemed destined for a life on the streets. Luckily, a relative knew of Vida Jovem, and helped Deivid join the program. Within the Vida Jovem family, Deivid thrived. He was admitted to the prestigious São Francisco Xavier private school and there became the school soccer star and further excelled in music. While in high school he became fascinated by international trade. He was determined to learn English and develop his career. With the help of some of Vida Jovem´s supporters who recognized his potential, he went to Richland College in Dallas, Texas where he initially studied English and later International Relations. In May, 2011 he will complete his Associate Degree. His grades have continuously placed him on the Dean’s List and his grade point average is among the highest in the school. He hopes to be able to continue his studies to finish his baccalaureate degree and later return to Brazil to help those who did not have the same opportunities as he did.

 

Gláucia and Mislene, sisters, arrived at Vida Jovem at 11 and 4 years of age. Their mother had died on Christmas Day and their father suffered from intense pain and was unable to take care of them. The Social Welfare Agencies sent them to Vida Jovem. Mislene passed the entrance exam to the São Francisco Xavier private school and was always a very dedicated student. After graduating from high school,  Gláucia left Vida Jovem and worked in telemarketing and prepared herself for the rigorous university entrance exam. In 2009 Mislene finished high school too and passed the university entrance exam on the first try. Today they live together, work part-time and study; Glaucia does psychology at UNIP and plans to work one day in HR. Mislene is majoring in advertising at UniNove and is keen to work in an advertising agency.

 

Mycarla lived for 8 years at Vida Jovem. When she was 9, a brain tumor was detected. Thanks to the Vida Jovem network, Mycarla received the best possible treatment and recovered completely from her surgery. She returned to live with her mother at 15 but stayed in contact with Vida Jovem that supported her with complementary education in IT and English. Today she studies psychology at UNIP University on a full scholarship provided by the VJ program and works part-time for her upkeep. Her long term goal is to work as a pediatric psychologist so she can help children as she was.