Meeting in Alto de Santa Maria • 22 August 2006

The team was warmly received in the community. Approximately 40 people attended. Some of the principal problems identified were:

• Basic access to services
Access to health, sanitation, and the piped water and energy networks is precarious.

• Lack of Personal Documents
Many people don’t have documents and consequently face exclusion from government programmes, social security, formal employment, education, etc.

• Title to Property
Many residents have no formal title documents for their properties.

• Youth Violence
This was raised as a very serious problem. It can in part be addressed by availing of the provisions of ECA (Child and Adolescent Statute) and demanding a greater role for the elected Conselheiros Tutelares (Youth Councilors)