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The municipality offers a space for the children of street vendors to socialize during the parades at the Sambadrome.
Published on 15/02/2026 - 16:09 | Updated on 15/02/2026 - 16:13
Community Space at the Rachel de Queiroz Early Childhood Education Center - Renan Areias/SMAS The Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance (SMAS) inaugurated on Saturday (February 14th), during the second night of presentations by the samba schools of the Gold Series, the Community Space for the children aged 4 to 12 of street vendors who work around the Marquês de Sapucaí. From 6 pm to 6 am, 19 children were received at the location. They played, participated in cultural activities, ate, and rested. And there's more today. On Sunday night (February 15th), during the parades that open the Special Group competition, the Rachel de Queiroz Early Childhood Education Center (EDI), where the service operates, on Avenida Presidente Vargas, near Sapucaí, will receive more guests. There are 50 vacancies available per night, on all days of parades at the Sambadrome, including the Champions' Parade (February 21st).
The Community Space helps prevent child labor exploitation and provides peace of mind for street vendors to work, while the children are protected and cared for. On the first night of operation, the Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance, Martha Rocha, visited the site and observed its operation firsthand.
– Our teams patrol the Sapucaí area and offer the service whenever they identify a need. The street vendors themselves can seek out our professionals, identified by their SMAS vests, or take their sons and daughters directly to the EDI, which is located very close to where they work.
Identification of children and adolescents
On Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday morning, SMAS completed another stage of the "Protecting is our theme" campaign, created for Carnival 2026. The department distributed nearly 700 identification bracelets to children and teenagers. 452 were distributed at Intendente Magalhães, during the Federation of Carnival Groups parade; 200 at Parque Realengo Susana Naspolini, which features live bands, DJs, and carnival groups; and 44 at the Sambadrome, for a total of 696 identifications.
The action of identifying children and teenagers allows for quick reunions if any of them get lost, and ensures greater safety and peace of mind for families, since the bracelet includes the name and telephone number of the parents or guardians. The initiative – which began on Friday night (February 13th), when 202 bracelets were distributed – will be repeated in Sapucaí, Intendente and Parque Realengo Susana Naspolini until the end of Carnival.
Safety in dispersal
In Sapucaí, SMAS also conducts the campaign "Dispersal is not a place for fun," aimed at preventing accidents involving children in Praça da Apoteose. Educators and social workers advise parents and guardians about the risks of children remaining in the dispersal area, where floats and cranes circulate.
In addition to all these initiatives during Carnival, SMAS works on providing social support to people in vulnerable situations, actively searching for lost children and adolescents, offering temporary institutional care when necessary, and promoting campaigns to eradicate child labor and combat sexual violence.
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