Mission Direct - Volunteers helping the world's poor

Brazil Factfile

Estimated population: 198,739,269
Capital: Brasília
Infant mortality rate: 22.58 deaths/1,000 live births
Climate: mostly tropical, but temperate in south where current project is located
Min-Max temp: 5-31 degrees c (Porto Alegre)
Language: Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth: 71.99 years
Religions: Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spiritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4%
Government: Federal republic
President: Luiz Inacio LULA da Silva
Area: 3,287,597 sq mi
Currency: Real (R$) (BRL)
Time zone: GMT -2 to GMT -4

Become a voice for the outcast

Brazil is a country of shocking extremes. It is famous for its opulent beaches, and glamorous nightlife and carnival. But just a few miles from the tourist hot spots there is another hidden Brazil. Brazils slums or ‘favelas’ are places of shocking poverty and decay. Many homes built of little more of trash.

Crime and disease are rife – it can be a frightening, hopeless existence. This is a Brazil that few holidaying Westerners ever get to see, and that many wealthier Brazilians choose to ignore completely.

Contribution: £1,495

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