The Channel

The Mission Bus | The Open Group | The Gymnasium

UNICYBER

Unicyber is an internet cafe located at The University of Life and open to the public 6 days a week. The benefits of this facility to the community are great. Access to the internet brings knowledge and opportunity for study and employment. In addition the cafe brings dignity and pride as people learn together and see small businesses like this investing in the community.

Unicyber - The University of Life cyber cafe, which offers the public access to internet, IT classes and job assistance

The Unicyber internet cafe

A University of Life college student who works at Unicyber as part of his college scholarship

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Sewing

The University of Life works with parents and older students to teach skills which will lead to employment. The first sewing course was held in January 2007 and resulted in one of our mothers finding employment as a seamstress.

Women attending a University of Life sewing class

The University of Life sewing class

The University of Life community sewing class graduates

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Jewelry

Students and parents at The University of Life have sold over 500 pieces of jewelry which they have designed and made in order to raise funds for various projects and activities. Each piece of jewelry has been unique, using local materials and traditional methods to reflect the culture and fashion of the area.

Students making jewelry

The University of Life students making jewelry

Samples of University of Life jewelry

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The Mission Bus

The mission bus is a full size bus customized to become a traveling stage for performances and public events. The bus is used within the program to host community activities and travels hundreds of miles per year taking our mission team to needy communities all over the north-east of Brazil. In partnership with local churches the bus is used for dance, theater, book reading, health education and Christian evangelism.

Our goal is to increase the use of this brand new vehicle in a full time program offering opportunity for international teams to work in partnership with our students to make an impact on the communities we visit.

Students performing on the mission bus

Large crowds gather at every mission bus performance - it has been a huge success!

Mission bus team members handing out food aid to families in the community

The mission bus and mission bus outreach team

A mission bus performace

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The Open Group

Open group (Grupo Aberta, in Portuguese) is a church which supports parents and community members living in the favela. Each week we choose a topic such as domestic violence, parenting skills, health or hygiene, and invite a local professional to give a talk on that subject. These people all kindly volunteer their time to the project.

For the following two weeks we continue the theme, looking at Bible teaching, sharing concerns, worshipping and praying together. Since 2006 the group has grown from 10 to 35 parents who regularly attend and find friendship and support each week.

Grupo Aberto - "The Open Group" gathers each week to provide support and bible learning

The Open Group music team opens each week

A volunteer gives a presentation during The Open Group

The Open Group provides parents with support

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The Gymnasium

This is the largest construction project ever undertaken at The University of Life. The gym will be the center of physical education and also a community facility where we can host concerts, performances, seminars, celebrations and much more.

First construction on the gym

Early construction on the gym>

Roof completed on the gym

Laying the first block

Volunteers and kids helping build the gym wall

Concreting the floor of the gym

New classroom space under the stage in the gym

Completed seating area and gym floor

Volunteers painting the completed gym stage

Staff members showing the size of the completed stage and gym floor - though the gym is functional, there is still much work to be done before it is completely finished!

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