How Lessons From Abroad Are Uplifting Youth In the United States [RWJF.org]

Like many high school graduates in Brazil, Caroline was eager to find a job. She desperately needed money to continue her studies and pursue her dream of becoming an engineer. But two years after graduating, she was still unemployed. Caroline eventually managed to improve her job prospects in an unlikely way—through drawing, dance and breath work.

Intent on breaking free from a family history of women who weren’t able to get good jobs or finish high school, Caroline discovered a job training program run by Rede Cidadã (The Citizen Network). The non-profit organization connects youth to jobs and apprenticeships throughout Brazil, where the youth unemployment rate is nearly 25 percent.

At Rede Cidadã, Caroline joined other young people in exercises that used movement and art to help her better understand and channel her emotions while becoming a strong communicator. She learned mindfulness techniques to help manage stress and build productive relationships. While untraditional, these methods have proven effective at equipping young people across Brazil with essential life and work skills—Rede Cidadãhas placed more than 60,000 youth into work since it was founded fifteen years ago. Upon completing the program, Caroline landed a job at AIC, a teleservice company in her hometown of Belo Horizonte.