INTERVENTION PROJECT IN A SCHOOL OF LOW-INCOME CHILDREN

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Located in Belo Horizonte/Brazil, State School “Professor Carvalho”, the only local public school, receiving students from several other poverty-struck areas, was the environment of the project. Lack of care, and youth abandonment, are serious issues in its coverage area, and we aimed to change local youth’s lack of future perspective, both in healthcare as in personal/professional aspects, seen as important social determinants of health. METHODS Weekly gatherings from September to December/2015 were developed, consisting in discussion groups, participative presentations and quizzes, avoiding classical forms of presentation, generally tiresome. At first, subjects were suggested by the project team, and then we engaged in subjects the students brought, which affected them more. We discussed: school violence and bullying; drug use and traffic; contraception; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; health promotion; professions and university access. Finally, a tour was organized to the Annual Professions’ Day in a local university, where undergraduates present their professions-to-be, helping high-schoolers decide their future. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Results were positive, despite the difficulties encountered - low governmental help; scarce resources and time; non-adhesion. Nevertheless, the project managed to modify future perspectives of some students, as they reported. Many thanked for the knowledge acquired or the guidance in professional future. One claimed that the project team paid students more attention than school staff. Final evaluations led to the conclusion that interventions are necessary, and low-income students are willing to learn and thrive, requiring only care, dedication and attention.