One of the most successful school payment programs ever was created in Brazil: Bolsa Escola, which began in 1996 and continues today in partnership with UNICEF. At first, Bolsa Escola was limited to a few areas, but as the program became more and more successful, other regions of Brazil adopted the program. Now, it exists nationwide.

Bolsa Escola originated in Brazil in 1996.

Bolsa Escola pays families to send their children to school; the program gives cash stipends to the mothers in the family. Though the payments are small – $5 per child, per month – the stipends help poor families increase their quality of life (for example, some families use the stipends to purchase electricity), while also educating millions of children. Since its inception, Bolsa Escola has reached 8.7 million children and 2.5 million parents, and is projected to help an additional 2.3 million students in coming years.

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Bragatti, Milton. Brazil: Getting Children Back to School . 2004.

Education grant takes children off the streets.

Programa e Missão.

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