The welfare situation in South America is nothing if not extremely dramatic.

Public education, already a failure in many respects, is unable to carry out its required function, with the obvious result of low scholastic attendance and a high rate of illiteracy. Brazilian schools are only open half day. For the remainder of the time children and adolescents are left to themselves to wander the streets. Violence, poverty, drugs, prostitution and weapon trading are realities that these young people face every day.