Literacy…

… takes on a whole new meaning when it’s a child on a pile of trash reading a book. Brazil is known for a huge chasm separating the rich from poor (the richest 10% garner half the income in the county, while the lowest 10% get less than 1%). While lucky middle-class kids like Ana Flavia will grow up going to good (meaning private) schools ($200/mo) and having a maid in the house, the girl in the picture will grow up in a working-class family struggling to put food on the table and pay rent. President Lula, who grew up in poverty, has made some reforms to bring relief to the neediest families. Unfortunately, Lula’s administration did not do much to improve Brazil’s low public education standards, one of the reasons why so many poor remain trapped in poverty.
We saw this girl on our way back from UFC. She was rather amused by us and waved back as the trash cart rolled away down the street.