History
1993
Eight children and youngsters cared for by Yvonne Bezerra de Mello were murdered by policemen at the Candelária massacre. One of the survivors went back to live with his family in a small slum, under a road overpass in São Cristóvão. Still caring for this boy, Yvonne developed a close relationship with other dwellers and created COQUEIRINHO – the first draft of what would be UERÊ school. It remained there in a precarious way for four years, providing food and education for about 80 children/day.
1997
Rio de Janeiro’s city mayor moved the existing slum to Complexo da Maré, in Bonsucesso. PROJETO UERÊ followed that population, operating until 1998 in municipal shelters in the Complexo, until that population was settled in a place called Baixa do Sapateiro.
1998
PROJETO UERÊ was acknowledged as a Non-Governmental Organization, strengthening the integral protection of children and teenagers’ rights, acting with focus on prevention. As for the pedagogical area, it is specialized in children with constant traumas caused by several types of violence, leading to blockades and severe learning difficulties.
Since 1998, PROJETO UERÊ continued to increase the number of children and staff. It has gained the national and international respect. It’s UERÊ-MELLO pedagogy became a public policy in Rio de Janeiro’s education system in 2009, qualifying teachers from 150 schools based in conflict areas.
