Focus on youth center: Proposal and actions

Abstract

The “Elaine Viviani” Youth Center is a social institution aimed at young people in the South region of São Carlos (SP). This Center is located in the poorest area of the city where is found a high social vulnerability. This text derives from a piece of research whose general objective was to know and analyze the profile of the public served by the CJ, since its inauguration at the end of 2008, as well as to raise the proposed activities and its institutional dynamics. Initially, the data sought were age, gender, schooling, and neighborhood of origin, followed by participant observation, during the second half of 2012, of the activities, offered to their customers, as well as informal conversations with managers and youths in order to get to know the institutional dynamics. All the information provided was related to the procedures established by its “Pedagogical Politician Project” and the National Youth Policy. It was proved that different ages attend activities in the Institution besides teenagers and young adults. Moreover, girls’ attendance was smaller than boys’ attendance and the majority of users live in the surrounding areas. Among the activities, it was offered mainly technical and professional courses and sports-related activities. It is noted that although the “Pedagogical Politician Project” prioritizes its objective and proposals on young people, the reality observed and the data found pointed out that this population was not, in fact, prioritized.