Josie was just 12 years old when she got married the first time. She bore two children during her 7 year marriage to her abusive husband. Her husband prevented her from coming outside for four years.

Josie was 19 years old when her husband died, leaving her to raise the children on her own. This task would be difficult for anyone, but was made even more dire because Josie could not read or write. Josie decided she must learn to read and write if she ever wanted to provide a better future for her children. Not only did Josie learn how to read and write, she went on to university and graduated with advanced degrees in education and social sciences.

Josie was given a plot of land in Conde (Con-gee), about 20km from the city of Joao Pessoa, Brazil (the eastern most point of the Americas). Josie (since remarried) saw the plight of the children in Conde, and was motivated to make a difference. Most of the children of Conde live in homes with no running water and are under-nourished.

Josie used the land to build a school for the children of Conde.  Fundacao Educar provides an education to children from infant to 5th grade.  Josie cares for infants so the parents can either be employed or seek job training.  The children are fed three meals per day and allowed to shower each day.

The amazing thing is that Josie operates the school without any government assistance despite the fact her school is the only hope the children of the community have for a decent education. Not only does the government fail to provide any assistance to Josie, they also have chosen not to build a school in the community.

However, the government is threatening to shut the school down because Josie is unable to pay the 23 teachers who volunteer at the school.  Consequently, Seeds of Life is endeavoring to raise $48,000 for CY2010 so that each of the 23 teachers will be paid a minimal salary.  The salary will cover transportation expenses to and from Congie.

Our overall goal is to establish a fund that will pay out $150,000 a year to the school to pay for teachers through 12th grade.  This will give every child in the community an opportunity to complete primary school.

Seeds of Life will partner with another non-profit in Belo Horizonte, Brazil who will provide technical school training and job placement for the high school graduates of Fundacao Educar.