The Early Childhood Carioca Card program reaches 841 more families in seven neighborhoods in the North Zone.

The Rio de Janeiro City Hall, through the Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance (SMAS), began distributing the "Cartão da Primeira Infância Carioca" (Rio Early Childhood Card) to residents of seven more neighborhoods in the North Zone this Tuesday, November 4th. This time, 841 families are benefiting. The distribution of the benefit took place at the Piedade Tennis Club. At 8 am, cards were delivered to beneficiaries from Piedade, Engenho de Dentro, Encantado, Água Santa, and Lins de Vasconcelos; starting at 11 am, to those from Engenho Novo and Rocha.

Launched on Children's Day (October 12th), the card has already been delivered to 4.670 families. The benefit is part of the Pequenos Cariocas program, a multidisciplinary protection network created by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall to care for the comprehensive development of children up to 4 years old in situations of social vulnerability.

"Taking care of early childhood means guaranteeing not only a better childhood, but a better quality of life and new and better opportunities for that child," says the municipal secretary of Social Assistance, Martha Rocha, who has been leading the distribution of the cards.

More fruit in your diet.

Fernanda da Silva, a 26-year-old resident of Água Santa, says that the R$ 200 monthly allowance from the card will help with weekly shopping for her 2-year-old daughter, Alice.

"My husband works at an eye clinic, but I'm not working. The money will be useful for buying fruit," says Fernanda, who is also the mother of 10-year-old Miguel.

Iandara Gonçalves Borges, 23, lives in her mother's backyard in Encantado with her son Ítalo, who is 1 year and 3 months old.

“My mother supports me with food and diapers. With the card, I will buy fruit, meat, and beans,” she describes.

Felipe Marques dos Santos, 31, father of 4-month-old baby Alícia Ryana Vitória, also went to pick up his Rio de Janeiro Early Childhood Card.

"I live alone with Alicia. It's a new experience, she's my first daughter. Her mother is a street vendor and helps with her care. The priority will be buying her milk," explains the resident of Lins de Vasconcelos.

Income supplement

Mayla Oliveira da Silva, 28, who lives in Engenho Novo, and Andressa Cristina Almeida Garreto, 36, from Engenho de Dentro, work informally at buffets and weekend events to support their children. Mayla is the mother of Maya, 6 months old; Théo, 3 years old; and Myrella, 8 years old. Andressa is the mother of Zaya, 2 years and 2 months old. Both plan to buy yogurt for the children with the benefit.

Joanne Nunes de Oliveira Cardoso, 34, and her husband Lucas Furtado de Oliveira, 30, are currently unemployed. The couple from Engenho Novo were happy with the opportunity for their family to benefit from the card and be able to provide better quality food for their little Diana, who is 1 year and 5 months old.

"I couldn't believe it when I got the call from CRAS! I'm not working, and Lucas has been doing odd jobs as a street vendor's assistant. With the card, we're going to buy diapers, milk, and vegetables," Joanne plans.

Also a resident of Engenho Novo, Natalia Moretzsohn Carreira, 40, intends to use the benefit money to improve the snacks for her 4-year-old daughter, Maria Luísa, who is already in daycare.

– I work independently as a tutor. The card came at the perfect time! I'll use it to buy Maria Luísa's snack: the bread roll, the cheese… – says the teacher, who is also the mother of 12-year-old Alberto.

who can receive

To be eligible for the municipality's new food income transfer program, families must meet the following prerequisites: be registered in the Unified Registry (CadÚnico); not receive Bolsa Família from the federal government; have a monthly family income of up to R$ 218 per person; and have at least one child aged 0 to 4 years. Each family entitled to the benefit – a food card worth R$ 200, recharged monthly and accepted in more than 1.500 establishments in the city – receives a notification via WhatsApp (to the contact information registered in CadÚnico) with information about the date and location for collection.

Only the family head registered in the CadÚnico (Single Registry for Social Programs) can pick up the card. Therefore, it is not permitted to send another person as a family representative. It is necessary to bring an official photo ID (RG, CIN, CNH, or work permit). Through the Carioca Digital website, families can also check if they are among the beneficiaries by providing only their CPF number (Brazilian taxpayer ID).

about the card

The Rio de Janeiro Early Childhood Card program will reach 30 families, with an annual investment of over R$70 million by the Rio de Janeiro City Hall. The initiative seeks to combat food insecurity among children, reaffirming the municipality's commitment to social protection from early childhood.

The card is part of the Pequenos Cariocas program, which brings together more than 25 initiatives in the areas of health, education, social assistance, culture, and protection against violence, for the comprehensive, full, and healthy development of children.

The launch took place at the Vila Olímpica da Maré on Children's Day, when cards for 988 families began to be distributed. Also in October, the benefit reached another 957 families in Parada de Lucas, Vigário Geral, Jardim América, Cordovil and Brás de Pina; 699 in Ilha do Governador; 696 in Caju, Rio Comprido, Santa Teresa, Catumbi, Estácio and Cidade Nova; and 489 in Benfica, Mangueira, Manguinhos and São Cristóvão. With Tuesday's delivery, the total number of cards distributed reached 4.670.

Category:

• Social assistance
• City
• News

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