City of God is one of the most dangerous slums in Rio and in Latin America that Life Impact serves. The people there are caught in the middle of an ongoing war between drug traffickers and police. Almost every week, violent confrontations erupt, leaving behind death, injury, and fear. For the children who grow up here, danger and exploitation are normal. Desperation and insecurity are part of their everyday lives.
During a recent conflict, one of the children at our Prevention Project, whose mother is addicted to cocaine and leaves him and his siblings alone for days at a time, created a drawing. It was a powerful picture of the impact of our work on the lives of some of the most vulnerable children in the world!
In it, João drew a police helicopter as drug traffickers exchanged gunfire with them, and people ran in desperation. But at the bottom, there was something else that caught all of our hearts’ attention—
João drew a castle representing his safe place: Life Impact’s Prevention Project.
João knows where he can find refuge. He knows where he can run for safety.
