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Missionaries Profile

Brazil

Statistics about Brazil's Children: -20 million children live in or below poverty level -5 to 10 million children live on the streets -Brazil has more than 500,000 child prostitutes -Street Execution is the third leading cause of death for Brazilian children

Currency: Real; 1 US Dollar = 2.86400 Brazilian Real (November 2003)

Major trading partners: US 27.4%, Argentina 13.5%, Germany 8.9%, Japan 5.0%, Italy (2001)

Inflation: 8.3% (2002)

Unemployment rate: 6.3% (2002)

Major industries: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Agricultural products: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugar cane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Population below poverty line: 22% (1998)

Per capita: GDP $7,600 (2002) vs. U.S. at $37,600

Independence from Portugal: 7 Sept 1822

Languages: Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 80%

Ethnic groups: Indian, white (includes Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish) 55%, mixed white and black 38%, black 6%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 1%

Literacy: 86.4%

Life expectancy: 71.13 years vs. U.S. at 77.14 years

Median age: 27 years old

Population: 182,032,604, (Aug. 2003 est.), fifth largest in world

Size: 3,286,488 sq. mi. (8,511,965 sq km), fifth largest country in the world, slightly smaller than the U.S., and the largest country in South America. Shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador. Brazil has 26 states.

Location: South America

Official name: Federative Republic of Brazil

Smith, Corenne Garrison and Philip Smith Corenne Garrison and Philip

Brazil has one of the largest disparities between the small but controlling wealthy class and the massive numbers of powerless poor people. Often, youth choose life on the streets to escape the poverty of the slums and, more often, to escape abusive families. On the streets, they are exposed to HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, child prostitution, substance abuse, and violence.



With the blessing of the National Baptist Convention of Brazil, Corenne and Philip minister to children who are part of a residential program that rescues homeless street children and youth ranging in age from 8 to 18. The program provides guidance, education, and training for future employment. All students have completed a paid internship and are employed before they leave the program. Corenne works mainly with the older children, working with them on life skills so that they can eventually transition away from a boarding school to independent living. Corenne also serves as a surrogate mother to many of the children, sharing with them the love of Jesus. After experiencing day-to-day living in a safe, caring Christian environment, most of these children make decisions to follow Christ.



Philip Smith is the president and CEO of the residential program, Hope Unlimited for Children, which was founded in 1991. Philip is serving in Brazil in a joint appointment by International Ministries and Hope Unlimited International.