On March 21, 2022, staff of CIESPI/PUC-Rio with the help of public health agents, the Guardianship Council, the Sankofa Museum Rocinha Resists, and activists from Rocinha for Life, carried out an action to stress the importance of vaccinating young children in the community against COVID-19 and other diseases.

CIESPI used megaphones in the many alleys in Rocinha, and distributed pamphlets to counter the principal doubts about vaccination. Over 90% of the homes in the community are only accessible by alleys or concrete stairs. Some of the activity was concentrated outside the municipal schools in the community.

This action was conducted as part of the action research Safe, inclusive, and participatory early childhood education, an international study coordinated by the Moray House School of Education at Edinburgh University.

Rocinha is a very crowded community with very high rates of such diseases as tuberculosis and leprosy. Infectious diseases spread very rapidly and the presence of anti-vaccination campaigns makes this campaign very important.

The campaign was assisted by young activists who are also part of the project and who have been trained to interact with, play with and listen to young children.

In addition to this day’s action, CIESPI has hired sound trucks and postings on social media to spread the word.