It is not always easy to be young in S o Roque - something which is true for many other Brazilian cities, too.
Malnutrition is common.
Because of lack of education and vocational training they cannot get a job generating some income for themselves to sustain their lives with dignity. Many of them, due to socio-economic problems, have not even completed grammar school because they have been forced to leave in order to go to work to add to the family income. Those working at this young age do so mostly without any vocational training, they are not registered officially as employees, participate in no company sponsored health plans and have absolutely no job security. To be able to enter into the job-market, higher and higher qualifications are required. A large number of youngsters are looking for jobs, a better quality of life, solidarity, social justice and other basic human needs - but are simply unable to find them.