Before joining the WPP Fellowship Program, Melissa used to teach Philosophy, Ethics & Religious Studies at a secondary school in North Wembley. By having the opportunity to teach a "challenging" Brazilian girl, she was inspired to see that she could be a real catalyst for change in people's lives. This story had everything to do with her applying to TIE to work with Espaço da Criança, in Recife (Brazil). Espaço da Criança works in one of the poorest communities in the city of Recife - one that suffers from crime, drug trafficking and lack of basic services, such as education and public health. Espaço da Criança works to give the children in the community the tools to fight for better conditions with recreational and educational activities. When Melissa arrived in Recife, she was given a challenging task: to raise Espaço da Criança's profile and get corporations in the city to contribute to their work, increasing the organization's sustainability.
