It is an area of dense drug trafficking and warring gangs. Children as young as 4 are described as 'little aeroplanes', cajoled into carrying drugs between dealers and addicts.

In this impoverished community unemployment is high, prostitution (including child prostitution) is rife and few babies are born into family structures that we would recognise.

Children roam the streets, prey to those who would exploit them

The project begun in a rented school building, providing up to 150 children with three meals per day, showers, clothes (when necessary), education, medical care and of a safe place to spend their day.

Rent on the building was a huge drain on resources, highlighting the need for the project to have its own building. A nearby plot of land was identified as being suitable and was purchased for the project by the congregation of a church in Chelmsford, Essex, England and a volunteer team who worked at the project in 2003.

Further development, in partnership with an international foundation trust, is anticipated to commence in early 2008. Click here to view plans

Some of the children at PAV meet the criteria set down by Compassion USA and are funded through their international child sponsorship programme.

Financial support comes from the UK and Brazil with some practical support from neighbouring churches in Niteroi. Food retailers from the region's market town also donate their surplus stock to the project.

PAV seeks to establish more funding from within Brazil through grants and partnerships with other organizations and local government.