When we met Laiana, she was teaching remedial classes and earning about $7 per month, as well as going to college to become a teacher. She then started to teach some additional kids for free because even though their mothers didn’t have money to pay, she had known the kids since they were young and wanted to help.

Laiana graduated from college this month as a teacher. Since she became our partner, she initiated a project called Freedom in Books, which helps kids to read and incentivizes literacy.

Hear the Cry is proud to say that this is our first locally-developed project for the community. We received over 200 books as a donation from a businessman in Sao Paulo for her to start the first public library in Corrego da Volta.

The project will rise to success thanks to Laiana’s own efforts to pursue her dream: to encourage people to read and develop a love of knowledge.