Latest news from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

AOIHS Helps Impoverished Women and Children

Alvaro Affonso de Miranda Neto, or Doda as he is known, is a familiar figure in international show jumping. He is one of the driving forces behind the Athina Onassis International Horse Show but less well known is his involvement with a charity for impoverished women and children in his home city of San Paulo. APAF (Associacao Paulista de Apoio a Familia) is a non government organisation founded in 2004 by parents and friends of the Stance Dual School and it's mission is to provide and promote opportunities for women and young children in vulnerable situations . The Association has two major initiatives. The first is Espaco Illuminar which offers low income women a professional qualification in hospitality free of charge. This programme then provides suitably trained staff for hotels and restaurants. It also offers courses in entrepreneurship, art, culture and IT to aid these women in their return to work. The second programme is the Centre for Infant Education which assists children aged from birth to four years old. After this crèche facility, which is linked to Secretary of Education for the San Paulo Muncipality and supervised by the Stance Dual School, renowned for it's excellence. Over 160 children benefit from this programme. Doda Miranda had this to say; “This has been a major jump in my life towards a better future for these kids. I believe in the model created by APAF , in which the women's professional development and inclusion into the workforce associated with the education of their children can generate a transformation in a family.” This is the fourth year that AOIHS has supported APAF and all of the proceeds from the stand which includes merchandise provided by the Global Champions Tour will go towards furthering the programmes. More information can be found at www.apafsp.org.br .