Brazil

The humanitarian, political and socio-economic crises in Venezuela have resulted in extreme food insecurity and hyperinflation, consequently disrupting Venezuela’s public services and educational system. Multiple years of schooling have been lost; access to essential goods is limited; and threats to protection and safety are heightened. Vulnerable children and youth are at increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence; early marriage and pregnancy; recruitment into criminal gangs and other armed groups; and other forms of abuse and exploitation.

The number of students and refugees requiring assistance and reintegration into the formal school system has substantially increased since 2015. Specifically, Brazil has tens of thousands of Venezuelan children and adolescents out of school.

The First Emergency Response (FER) in Brazil, which was completed in 2020, was part of the ECW’s response to the impacts of the Venezuela regional crisis. There are also FERs in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The response focused on improving access to both formal and non-formal education for Venezuelan refugee and migrant children and adolescents.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the programmes prioritised alternative education approaches such as remote learning, remedial education and psychosocial support to ensure the continuity of education.

In Brazil, ECW programming improved access to quality education through the implementation of new learning spaces, the training of teachers and the establishment of protection services.