Children in Brazil are learning how to advocate for their rights. Through the Urban Platform Program, young people are being trained in the skills of communications, advocacy, community organizing, and leadership. This intensive work takes place in Rio and São Paolo’s favelas, which are some of the most notorious urban slums in the world. We are grateful to have The Prudential Foundation as a partner supporting the Urban Platform Program, and when they visited Rio de Janeiro with me they were awed at these young people who were making their voices heard.

I was recently in Morocco, visiting a computer lab supported by Dell YouthConnect, the Dell signature giving program, which works to increase access to technology for youth in at-risk communities of Casablanca and Rabat. Through Dell’s generosity, we are able to build computer labs, bringing in computers, printers, LCD projectors, and teachers to train youth on information communications, and technology skills and to provide computer access to young people, as well as the adults who use the community centers while kids are at school.