Help Learning Center for Down Syndrome Students in Brazil

  • US$105.00
    raised of $1,000.00 goal goal
10% Funded
4 Donors

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities

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WHY I AM ASKING FOR DONATIONS

My name is Marilene Silva and I am a special needs educator in Brazil for people of all ages but especially children who have Down syndrome and Autism. I am asking for donations to maintain a special needs learning center I created in 2019 called the “T21 Space” where I offer classes to children and adults who live with Down syndrome. In 2020 my life was turned upside down, first with the pandemic that shut down my newly created teaching space and later in the year with a breast cancer diagnosis.

In 2020 I lost most of my students who could not afford their special needs education so I had to move my school into a smaller space to reduce costs while continuing to carry out my educational activities online. I learned how to offer online classes since Down syndrome patients have lower immunity to Covid and could not attend in-person learning. The Brazilian economy went into a recession in 2020 and the families of most patients went through financial troubles and could not afford their children’s classes but I continued offering help to my students as much as possible. In 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy followed by several months of chemotherapy balancing my time with classes to my students.

In 2021 I am rebuilding my educational space as I and my students get vaccinated and slowly return to their in-class learning but I am facing serious financial challenges after one and a half years with very little income. Several of my students come from families who simply cannot afford my modest teaching fees but I still want to help them through these difficult times. I am currently offering my educational services pro-bono to several students who need my support but cannot afford it and others are paying at a reduced rate.

I am asking for donations to reopen my “T21 Space” with in-person classes and activities for the Down syndrome patients. Your donation will help cover the tuition of patients who cannot afford it and will allow me to offer a better learning experience to all. Your donations will help pay my T21 Space rent and the two part time teaching assistants who help me with my classes such as cooking and photography.

WHAT I DO

I run an educational institute in Brazil called “T21 Space” for people of all ages with learning disabilities but especially children with Down syndrome although I also teach students with Autism. I provide hands-on classes that teach students how to carry out normal daily activities that can integrate them into society and help them find work. Parents will normally drop off their children at my facility where they will spend several hours learning new skills and making friends with other classmates. I also organize field trips and visits where the parents come along for outdoor activities. Seeing their smiles and laughs as they learn and enjoy new skills makes this all worthwhile and it is what motivates me and keeps me going.

WHO AM I, MARILENE SILVA

I was born in 1975 in the city of Porto Alegre in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. I have four sisters and we were the first in our family to get a college degrees. In 2000 I graduated from the local Federal University UFRGS with a degree in Education and in 2001 started teaching children with Down syndrome and Autism. In 2009 I earned a second degree in Educational Phycology. In 2013 I earned a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation and Inclusion. I also obtained specialization in T21 in 2015. I am currently studying towards another Master’s degree in Phycology. In 2001 I started my career offering professional services to special needs children in an office environment and in 2019 I decided to create a larger learning center called “T21 Space”. I needed a larger space where I could teach larger groups of Down syndrome students how to participate in daily activities such as organizing their homes, making their bed, cooking, and learning new skills such as photography and using a computer. I also wanted to prepare students for work and I have been successful in placing many of my students into the workplace with paying salaries.

THANK YOU

On behalf of my students I would like to thank all those who are contributing to this campaign and making a difference in the lives of people with special needs. As donations come in I will update this page to show examples of how your donations are being used. I hope you can also feel happy and rewarded seeing how your donation is making a difference to special needs students across the world in the south of Brazil.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

You can contribute to this campaign by clicking on the DONATE NOW button and pay using either PayPal or Credit Card.


HOW TO REACH ME

Instituto Espaco T21

Rua Jose de Alencar 1782

Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

Instagram: EspacoT21

Facebook: InstitutoEspacoT21

Phone/Whatsapp from US: 011-55-51-997803232

Phone/WhatsApp from Brazil: 51-997803232

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Fundraising Team

  • Luciane Ramos
  •  
  • Apoiadora

Donors

  • Gislene Ceci
  • Donated on Aug 05, 2021
$50.00
  • Lizandra Weeck
  • Donated on Jul 21, 2021
$5.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Jul 20, 2021
  • Looks like a good cause, glad to help.

$20.00

No updates for this campaign just yet

Donors & Comments

4 donors
  • Gislene Ceci
  • Donated on Aug 05, 2021
$50.00
  • Lizandra Weeck
  • Donated on Jul 21, 2021
$5.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Jul 20, 2021
  • Looks like a good cause, glad to help.

$20.00
$30.00

Followers

1 followers
Luciane Ramos
US$105.00
raised of $1,000.00 goal
10% Funded
4 Donors

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities