PBS NewsHour Weekend; PBS NewsHour Weekend : KQED : September 20, 2015 5:30pm-6:01pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by WNET

>> Sreenivasan: ON THIS EDITION FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCES IT WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES IT TAKES IN. AND, HOW SYRIAN REFUGEE FAMILIES ARE STARTING OVER, IN GERMANY.

>> IT'S NOT EASY TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BACK THERE. BUT WHEN YOU SETTLE DOWN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, YOU FIND A JOB, YOU LEARN A LANGUAGE, YOU ESTABLISH A FAMILY, AND IT BECOMES YOUR HOME.

>> Sreenivasan: ALSO, TIME FOR SCHOOL, IN BRAZIL. LIVING IN POVERTY AND FIGHTING FOR AN EDUCATION.

>> ( translated ): MY FUTURE IS NOT GUARANTEED. BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE MY FUTURE IS BY GOING TO SCHOOL.

>> Sreenivasan: NEXT ON PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND.

>> PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: LEWIS B. AND LOUISE HIRSCHFELD CULLMAN. BERNARD AND IRENE SCHWARTZ. JUDY AND JOSH WESTON. THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY. SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM, III. CORPORATE FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA-- DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RETIREMENT PRODUCTS. THAT'S WHY WE ARE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. FROM THE TISCH WNET STUDIOS AT LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US. THE UNITED STATES PLANS TO OPEN ITS DOORS A BIT WIDER TO REFUGEES, INCLUDING SOME WHO ARE FLOODING INTO EUROPE. THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS PUSHING TO RAISE THE CAP ON REFUGEES ADMITTED TO THE U.S. FROM AROUND THE WORLD FROM 70,000 A YEAR TO 85,000 NEXT YEAR, AND TO 100,000 IN TWO YEARS. THE GOAL OF ADMITTING 15,000 MORE REFUGEES NEXT YEAR IS HIGHER THAN PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. CONGRESS NEEDS TO APPROVE AND FUND THE RESETTLEMENT PLAN. BACKGROUND CHECKS ALONE CAN TAKE 18-TO-24 MONTHS. THE U.S. HAS GRANTED ASYLUM TO 1,600 SYRIAN REFUGEES SINCE THAT COUNTRY'S CIVIL WAR BEGAN IN 2011, BUT NOT ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL REFUGEES TO THE U.S. WILL BE SYRIAN. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AFTER CONFERRING WITH OFFICIALS IN GERMANY, THE NATION THAT HAS WELCOMED THE MOST MIGRANTS NOW SEEKING ASYLUM IN EUROPE.

>> THIS STEP IS IN KEEPING WITH THE AMERICA'S BEST TRADITION AS A LAND OF SECOND CHANCES AND A BEACON OF HOPE.

>> Sreenivasan: THE U.S. ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE ERECTING BARRIERS AND ISSUING TOUGHER IDENTITY CHECKS AT THEIR BORDERS, ALTHOUGH AUSTRIA ACCEPTED 15,000 NEW ARRIVALS THIS WEEKEND. THE UNITED NATIONS SAID THIS WEEKEND 80% OF THE MIGRANTS ARE FROM WAR-TORN SYRIA, LIBYA, IRAQ, AND AFGHANISTAN. THE NEWSHOUR'S SASKIA DEMELKER HAS THIS REPORT ABOUT ONE SYRIAN FAMILY'S ODYSSEY.

>> Reporter: WHEN I FIRST MET HAMEED AND GHOSON YAKDI, THEIR FAMILY WAS SLEEPING ON THE STREET NEAR THE HUNGARIAN BORDER WITH AUSTRIA, ALREADY A MONTH INTO THEIR JOURNEY ACROSS EUROPE. THEY LEFT THEIR BESIEGED HOMETOWN OF ALEPPO, SYRIA, FOR TURKEY, AFTER DAYS AT SEA TO GET TO GREECE, THEY TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES BY LAND, OFTEN WALKING, TO AUSTRIA, WHERE THEY FINALLY GOT SEATS ON A BUS TO VIENNA. THEIR TIMING WAS LUCKY. TWO DAYS BEFORE GERMANY RESTRICTED ENTRIES FROM AUSTRIA, THE YAKDIS WERE MET BY HAMEED'S BROTHER, MOHAMMED, WHO ALREADY LIVED IN GERMANY. HE DROVE THEM THE REST OF THE WAY TO MUNICH. NOW, A WEEK AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL, THEY ARE STARTING TO GET A TASTE OF WHAT THEY HOPE WILL BECOME THEIR NEW HOME.

>> ( translated ): THE WAY OF LIVING IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF EUROPE: THE LIVING CONDITIONS, FAMILY ATMOSPHERE, EVEN THE ROADS ARE DIFFERENT.

>> ( translated ): I FEEL SAFER THAT WE ARE ALL FAMILY HERE. ONE FEELS SAFE TO MELD INTO THE GERMAN SOCIETY.

>> Reporter: LIKE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER RECENT REFUGEES, THE YAKDIS FACE A CHALLENGE THAT WILL TAKE MUCH LONGER THAN THE JOURNEY FROM SYRIA: APPLYING FOR ASYLUM AND INTEGRATING INTO GERMAN SOCIETY. THE YAKDIS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE-- THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY IN MUNICH HAS TAKEN THEM IN. HAMEED'S BROTHER, MOHAMMED, CAME TO GERMANY ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO. AND THEIR COUSIN, RUAA, CAME FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, AS A REFUGEE FROM SADDAM HUSSEIN'S IRAQ. RUAA REMEMBERS THE DAUNTING CHALLENGE OF BEING THRUST INTO A DIFFERENT SOCIETY.

>> IT'S NOT EASY TO LEAVE EVERYTHING BACK THERE. BUT WHEN YOU SETTLE DOWN IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, YOU FIND A JOB, YOU LEARN A LANGUAGE, YOU ESTABLISH A FAMILY, AND IT BECOMES YOUR HOME.

>> Reporter: RUAA HAS MASTERED THE GERMAN LANGUAGE SO WELL THAT SHE NOW WORKS AS A TRANSLATOR. SHE WAS GRANTED ASYLUM, AND HER THREE DAUGHTERS WERE BORN AND RAISED HERE IN GERMANY.

>> YOU GAIN A LOT OF RESPECT FROM THE PEOPLE HERE WHEN YOU SPEAK THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.

>> Reporter: DO YOU FEEL ACCEPTED BY GERMANY?

>> NOT ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE OUR DIFFICULTIES HERE. EVERYBODY HAS HIS OWN OPINION. I CANNOT FORCE SOMEONE TO ACCEPT ME.

>> Reporter: IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A RISE IN CRIMES AGAINST IMMIGRANTS BY NEO-NAZIS IN GERMANY AND IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR THERE WERE MORE THAN 200 ATTACKS ON REFUGEE SHELTERS. BUT THE GERMANS I MET SAID THEY WELCOMED NEW ASYLUM SEEKERS LIKE THE YAKDIS, WHILE ALSO WOYING ABOUT LONG-TERM CHALLENGES AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A BACKLASH.

>> ( translated ): ONE HAS TO GIVE IT TIME. PREJUDICES ARE COMPLETELY BAD. HOWEVER IT PLAYS OUT, IT CERTAINLY WON'T BE EASY.

>> ( translated ): I BELIEVE IF MANY MORE PEOPLE COME, THERE WILL BE A POINT WHEN THERE'S A REVOLT IN GERMANY, BUT AS LONG AS IT'S ONLY PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED ASYLUM, IT'S FINE. I SAY, BETTER 1,000 REFUGEES THAN ONE NAZI.

>> ( translated ): YES, I THINK THERE CERTAINLY IS A POTENTIAL RISK FOR GERMANY. THAT THE EXTREME RIGHT-WING GROUPS MIGHT GET STRONGER. BUT NEVERTHELESS WHEN ONE SEES HOW MUCH AID IS OFFERED TO THE REFUGEES, THEN YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY GOOD.

>> Reporter: SINCE ARRIVING IN 2013, MOHAMMED YAKDI SAYS OVERALL HE HAS HAD A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN GERMANY. HE'S SPEAKING GERMAN AND HAS A JOB AS A FOOD DELIVERY TRUCK DRIVER. BUT AT TIMES, HE CAN FEEL THE PREJUDICE.

>> I HAVE ALWAYS ALWAYS STRESS. I CANNOT FEEL THIS MY HOME. I NEED MORE TIME.

>> Reporter: FOR THE TWO YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF THE YAKDI FAMILY, THREE-YEAR-OLD ADAM AND FOUR-YEAR-OLD FATEN, ASSIMILATION SHOULD BE EASIER AND QUICKER. LIKE THE CHILDREN OF ALL ASYLUM SEEKERS, GERMAN LAW REQUIRES THEY BE ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> NOW, I DON'T THINK ABOUT ME, ABOUT WHAT I WILL DO. I THINK ABOUT THEM, ABOUT WHAT THEY WILL DO IN THE FUTURE. I SEE THE OTHER CHILDREN HERE, AND THEY GO TO SCHOOL, THEY STUDY, AND THEY HAVE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: BUT EVEN AS THEY TRY TO BECOME PART OF GERMAN SOCIETY, THE YAKDIS WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO KNOW THEY WILL ALWAYS BE SYRIAN.

>> ( translated ): I WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONSISTENT REMINDING THEM THAT WE ARE SYRIANS, THERE DEFINITELY WILL BE PART OF THEM FROM THE HOMELAND THAT THEY WILL NEVER FORGET. SO WHEN THEY GROW UP, THEY WILL LIVE WITH THE GERMAN SOCIETY, BUT THEY WILL REMAIN SYRIANS.

>> Sreenivasan: CATHOLICS BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS PACKED HAVANA'S REVOLUTION SQUARE TODAY TO CELEBRATE MASS WITH POPE FRANCIS. FRANCIS CALLED ON THE FAITHFUL TO LIVE LIVES OF SERVICE TO THE VULNERABLE. LATER, HE HAD A PRIVATE MEETING WITH FORMER CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO. THE POPE HAD FACILITATED SECRET NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE U.S. THAT LED TO THE RENEWAL OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE CASTRO CAME TO POWER IN 1959. WHEN THE POPE ARRIVED IN HAVANA YESTERDAY, HE ENCOURAGED THE TWO NATIONS TO STRENGTHEN TIES.

>> ( translated ): I URGE POLITICAL LEADERS TO PERSEVERE ON THIS PATH AND TO DEVELOP ALL ITS POTENTIALITIES, AS AN EXAMPLE OF RECONCILIATION FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.

>> Sreenivasan: ON TUESDAY, POPE FRANCIS HEADS TO WASHINGTON, WHERE HE'LL MEET WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AND ADDRESS CONGRESS. GREECE HAS COMPLETED ITS THIRD NATIONAL VOTE THIS YEAR. THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER WHO STEPPED DOWN IN AUGUST, AFTER A DISPUTE OVER AUSTERITY MEASURES TO HANDLE GREECE'S DEBT CRISIS, APPEARS TO BE BACK IN POWER. NEWSHOUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MALCOLM BRABANT JOINS ME NOW FROM ATHENS TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS AND RAMIFICATIONS. ! EVERYTHING SOLD NEW AGAIN.

>> Reporter: ALEX, HE HAS JUST BEEN SPEAKING SAYING NOW HE HAS A MANDATE FOV FOUR YEARS THAT THE GREEK PEOPLE ARE BACKING HIM TO DO FIGHT IN HIS PARTICULAR CORNER. HE PORTRAYED THIS As A SUBSTANTIAL VICTORY BUT IT'S NOT ONE, TO BE POLL HONEST. THIS ELECTION HAS BEEN DEFINED BY THE APATHY OF THE GREEK PEOPLE. THERE'S COMPLETE DESPAIR WITH POLITICIANS AND POLITICS. BECAUSE THIS IS A COUNTRY WHICH IS PASSIONATE ABOUT POLITICS. PEOPLE ARE COMPELLED SUPPOSEDLY TO GO TO VOTE BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE IS THAT 45% OF THE PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE TODAY. THEY'RE SO COMPLETELY DISILLUSIONED AND WHEN ALEX WAS FIRST ELECTED IN JANUARY HE WAS ON A WAVE OF HOPE THAT WAS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS. BUT HE HAS DISAPPOINTED SO MANY PEOPLE. HE MAY HAVE GONE IN TODAY WITH THE HELP OF HIS PREVIOUS RIGHT WING COLLEAGUES TO FORM A MAJORITY GOVERNMENT. SOME PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR HIM SAID YOU PUT US IN A REAL MESS, NOW YOU CAN FINISH THE JOB.

>> THERE WAS ALSO CONCERN THAT HE GOT IN ON THE MANDATE OF STANDING AGAINST THE AUSTERITY MEASURES AND HE CAPITULATED TO THE REST OF EUROPE?

>> WELL THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS QUITE DROLL ABOUT THE WHOLE OF GREECE. EARLIER TODAY YOU HAD THE MINISTER WHO IS FORMING THE RIGHT WING COALITION SAYING THIS IS A TIME FOR A NEW BEGINNING AND TIME FOR GREECE TO GET TRUST THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRUST BECAUSE HE PROMISED SO MUCH, ESPECIALLY IN THE ELECTORATE AND WHEN THEY VOTED NO IN THIS REFERENDUM IN TERMS OF AUSTERITY MEASURES HE COMPLETELY IGNORED THAT AND CAPITULATED TO THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THERE WAS A TAXI DRIVER THAT BROUGHT HE HERE TONIGHT THAT CAME UP WITH A VERY INSTRUCTIVE QUOTE AND HE SAID, I DON'T CARE IF WE HAD A SOCIALIST OR A CONSERVATIVE. HE SAID COME MONDAY MORNING WE WON'T HAVE A PRIME MINISTER. WE WILL HAVE A DUTCH PERSON TELLING US WHAT TO DO. THAT'S THE WAY MANY GREEKS FEEL. THAT HE IS A PRIME MINISTER IN NAME ONLY BECAUSE HIS POLICIES ARE BEING DICTATED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION.

>> FINALLY WHILE I STILL HAVE YOU, THIS HAPPENS AT A TIME, AS YOU HAVE DOCUMENTED, GREECE IS ON THE FRONTLINES IN MANY CASES OF THE MIGRANT CRISES AS WELL.

>> ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS INTERNATIONALLY REALLY ABSENT THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMING BACK INTO POWER IS THAT HE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT TEARING DOWN THE FENCE, WHICH SEPARATES GREECE AND TURKEY. NOW THAT FENCE IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ALL OF THE MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN COMING ACROSS VIA BOAT INTO THE ISLANDS. NOW HE IS VERY MUCH A PRO REFUGEE AND HE MIGHT SAVE ALL OF THE MY GRANTS FROM COMING ACROSS THE WATER GUESS HE GOES THERE AND PULLS DOWN THE FENCE. HE HAS TO GET POLITICAL SUPPORT TO DO THAT BUT THAT IS A FAIRLY MAJOR THING TO LOOK AHEAD TO IN THE FUTURE.

>> MICHAEL, JOINING US FROM GREECE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Sreenivasan: MORE THAN 1,000 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS FORCED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES A WEEK AGO DUE TO A WILDFIRE ARE BEING ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME TODAY. THE FIRE NEAR HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, JUST NORTH OF NAPA, WAS 50% CONTAINED THIS MORNING, BUT NOT BEFORE IT HAD DESTROYED 800 HOMES. RESIDENTS OF FIRE-RAVAGED MIDDLETOWN WERE ALLOWED TO GO BACK YESTERDAY. MORE THAN 10,000 FIREFIGHTERS WERE BATTLING 10 DIFFERENT WILDFIRES THIS WEEKEND IN DROUGHT-RIDDEN CALIFORNIA. VOLKSWAGEN IS APOLOGIZING FOR RIGGING EMISSIONS TESTS. C.E.O. MARTIN WINTERKORN SAID TODAY, "I PERSONALLY AM DEEPLY SORRY THAT WE HAVE BROKEN THE TRUST OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC." THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ANNOUNCED FRIDAY THE GERMAN AUTOMAKER USED COMPUTER SOFTWARE TO CHEAT AND BEAT GOVERNMENT EMISSION TESTS, BUT ALLOWED MORE SMOG-CAUSING POLLUTANTS TO BE RELEASED IN TRUE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE E.P.A. HAS ORDERED THE AUTOMAKER TO FIX 500,000 DIESEL FUEL CARS MADE IN THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. V.W. COULD ALSO FACE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FINES.

>> Sreenivasan: FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, A UNITED NATIONS-LED INITIATIVE HAS CUT NEARLY-BY- HALF THE NUMBER OF YOUNG CHILDREN WORLDWIDE WHO ARE NOT ENROLLED IN SCHOOL, FROM 100 MILLION TO AN ESTIMATED 57 MILLION. FOR THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES "TIME FOR SCHOOL," PBS CONTINUES TO CHRONICLE THAT EFFORT IN SIX COUNTRIES: KENYA, BENIN, INDIA, ROMANIA, JAPAN, AND AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE, BRAZIL. IN BRAZIL, THE GOVERNMENT EARMARKS EDUCATION ENROLLMENT FUNDS FOR THE POOREST 40% OF THE POPULATION. THE PROGRAM GIVES CHILDREN BORN INTO SLUMS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INTO CLASSROOMS AND IS NOW BEING REPLICATED THROUGHOUT LATIN AMERICA.

>> ( translated ): I DREAM THAT EVERYTHING IS GOOD. THAT MY MOTHER BUYS HER HOUSE, THAT MY SISTERS AND BROTHER HAVE THE THINGS THEY WANT. I DREAM ABOUT BECOMING A SOCCER PLAYER, ABOUT FINISHING SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: FIVE-YEAR-OLD JEFFERSON NARCISO IS ABSORBED IN THE IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES OF CHILDHOOD. BUT HIS MOTHER, LESLIE, HAS A LOT ON HER MIND.

>> ( translated ): I WORRY A LOT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES HE DISAPPEARS. HE GOES UPSTAIRS TO PLAY WITH HIS KITE, AND IF I DON'T GO UP AND GRAB HIM, HE NEVER COMES HOME.

>> Reporter: RAISING FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN ALONE IN ROCINHA, RIO'S BIGGEST FAVELA, OR SLUM, LESLIE HAS CAUSE TO WORRY. DRUG DEALING IS A DAILY REALITY, WHICH LESLIE WORRIES COULD DERAIL HER CHILDREN FROM THE RIGHT PATH. LESLIE'S LOW INCOME QUALIFIES HER FOR AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM CALLED BOLSA FAMILIA. IT PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH A MONTHLY STIPEND AS LONG AS CHILDREN STAY IN SCHOOL. IT'S PAID OFF FOR THE COUNTRY. 95% OF BRAZILIAN CHILDREN ENTER PRIMARY SCHOOL, AND IT'S PAID OFF FOR JEFFERSON TOO.

>> ( translated ): WHAT DID YOU DO IN SCHOOL TODAY?

>> ( translated ): A DRAWING.

>> ( translated ): A DRAWING AND WHAT ELSE? DID YOU DANCE IN SCHOOL? NO? I WANT THEM TO TRY THE THINGS THAT I NEVER DID IN LIFE. HAVE THE FREEDOM I DIDN'T HAVE. I WANT THEM TO PLAY BECAUSE I COULDN'T PLAY. I WANT THEM TO ENJOY, TO PLAY, TO STUDY.

>> ( translated ): WHEN I'M GOING TO SCHOOL, SOMETIMES THERE ARE GUNSHOTS, SO I HIDE IN A SHACK OR I STOP IN SOME OTHER PLACE.

>> Reporter: IN ROCINHA, VIOLENCE BETWEEN GANGS, POLICE, AND PARAMILITARY GROUPS HAS BEEN ESCALATING.

>> ( translated ): WHEN I SEE THE POLICE I GET A LITTLE SCARED BECAUSE THEY COULD SHOOT AT A DRUG DEALER, AND A STRAY BULLET COULD COME AT ME.

>> ( translated ): SCHOOL IS A SECOND HOME FOR THE KIDS; FOR SOME IT'S A FIRST. HERE THEY CAN COUNT ON LEARNING AND AFFECTION. IT'S A REFUGE FOR THEM, SO THEY CAN FEEL CONNECTED TO A MOMENT OF PEACE AND PLEASURE. ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THIS LITTLE BOY, JEFFERSON, LOOKED AT ME, A NEW TEACHER, A LITTLE SCARED AND SHY. GENERALLY THE KIDS ARE VERY HYPER AND NEVER STOP. BUT JEFFERSON IS DIFFERENT. HE SITS IN HIS LITTLE SPOT AND WAITS FOR MY ORDERS. IS IT SWEET, SALTY OR BITTER?

>> ( translated ): IT'S SALT.

>> ( translated ): WHAT I FIND INTERESTING IS THAT HE ALREADY KNOWS HOW TO READ. GENERALLY THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. MOST OF THE KIDS AREN'T READING FLUENTLY.

>> Reporter: THREE YEARS LATER, JEFFERSON IS DOING WELL AT SCHOOL BUT AS HE GETS OLDER, THE DANGERS OF ROCINHA WORRY HIS MOTHER LESLIE EVEN MORE.

>> ( translated ): LIKE ANY MOTHER, IT SCARES ME THAT MY CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP AND LIVING IN THIS KIND OF WORLD. I'M AFRAID THAT MY DAUGHTER WILL BECOME A WHORE AND THAT MY SON WILL BECOME A DRUG DEALER WHEN HE GROWS UP. WE LIVE IN A SLUM, SO WE SEE THESE THINGS ALL THE TIME. JEFFERSON HAS A FRIEND THREE YEARS OLDER THAN HIM WHO IS NOW A DRUG DEALER. SO I SAY TO HIM, "IF YOU CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIS PATH, YOU'LL HAVE TWO OPTIONS DEATH OR PRISON."

>> Reporter: TO KEEP JEFFERSON OFF THE STREETS, HIS MOTHER HAS ENROLLED HIM IN A CHURCH RUN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS, LOCATED OUTSIDE OF ROCINHA, IN ONE OF DOWNTOWN RIO'S MORE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> ( translated ): I THINK HE GETS WHAT I DO, WHAT I TEACH HIM AND HE FINISHES EVERYTHING REALLY FAST! HE'S NO SLACKER. IT'S VERY REWARDING. IT'S VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME.

>> ( translated ): WHEN I GROW UP, I'LL GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A MATH TEACHER. WHEN I FINISH MY STUDIES, I'LL BECOME A SOCCER PLAYER.

>> Reporter: BUT SUDDENLY THERE IS A MAJOR SETBACK. THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, WHICH SKIPPED JEFFERSON A GRADE, HAS NOW DECIDED TO HOLD HIM BACK A YEAR. THE PRINCIPAL FEARS HE'S NOT MATURE ENOUGH FOR THE INFLUENCES HE'LL ENCOUNTER IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> ( translated ): HE'S REALLY SMART AND RESPONSIBLE, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARMFUL PUTTING JEFFERSON, SO YOUNG, AROUND CHILDREN SO MUCH OLDER THAN HIM. THAT'S WHEN THEY USUALLY DROP OUT.

>> ( translated ): MY GRADES ARE GOOD. I STUDIED A LOT. IT REALLY MAKES ME SAD. EVERYBODY GRADUATED EXCEPT ME. I JUST WATCHED IT.

>> Reporter: IT'S CHRISTMAS 2014, AND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS JEFFERSON HAS STAYED IN SCHOOL. NOW HE'S IN 10TH GRADE AND IS LOOKING AT LIFE WITH SURPRISING REALISM.

>> ( translated ): I'VE CHANGED A LOT. I USED TO DREAM ABOUT BEING A SOCCER PLAYER. NOW I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HELPING MY MOTHER THAN PLAYING SOCCER.

>> Reporter: AFTER MANY YEARS, HIS MOTHER LESLIE HAS MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE OUT OF THE ROCINHA FAVELA TO A SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ( translated ): THE DRUG DEALING DROVE ME OUT OF ROCINHA.

>> ( translated ): I'M LIVING, AT MY BROTHER'S HOUSE IN PIABETA.

>> Reporter: SHE ENROLLED JEFFERSON INTO A BETTER SCHOOL, BUT THE CLASSES WERE HARDER, AND HE STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. JEFFERSON COULDN'T KEEP UP AND NOW HAS TO REPEAT 10TH GRADE.

>> ( translated ): AT FIRST, I WAS UPSET THAT I FAILED. BUT NOW, I'VE ACCEPTED IT AND I'LL TRY TO PASS NEXT YEAR.

>> Reporter: BUT EVEN IF HE DOES PASS, JEFFERSON WILL JOIN THE MILITARY FOR A YEAR, AS BRAZILIAN MEN ARE REQUIRED TO DO AT AGE 18. JEFFERSON WOULD THEN HAVE TWO YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL LEFT, IF HE WENT BACK. DESPITE THE ENORMOUS PROGRESS BRAZIL HAS MADE OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, ONE THIRD OF BRAZIL'S SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS DO NOT GRADUATE.

>> ( translated ): IN THE FUTURE, I WANT TO GIVE MY MOTHER A HOUSE, TO LIVE WITH MY SIBLINGS, TO BE A GOOD PERSON, AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE ON THIS TRACK. I PLAN TO GO TO COLLEGE ONE DAY. MY FUTURE IS NOT GUARANTEED. BUT THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE MY FUTURE IS BY GOING TO SCHOOL.

>> THIS IS PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, SUNDAY.

>> Sreenivasan: IN OTHER NEWS, THE SPANISH-LANGUAGE VARIETY SHOW "SABADO GIGANTE" HELD ITS FINAL BROADCAST LAST NIGHT, AFTER 53 YEARS ON THE AIR WITH THE SAME HOST. FOR ITS ENTIRE RUN ON UNIVISION, THE THREE-HOUR WEEKLY PROGRAM WAS HOSTED BY DON FRANCISCO, WHOSE REAL NAME IS MARIO KREUTZBERGER. KREUTZBERGER HAS BEEN COMPARED TO JOHNNY CARSON AND OPRAH WINFREY. THE FINALE INCLUDED VIDEO MESSAGES FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE FIRST LADY, ALONG WITH LATIN AMERICAN STARS INCLUDING SHAKIRA AND GLORIA ESTEFAN. >>>> SO THANK YOU, DONE FRANCISO FOR ALL OF THE JOY AND THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT YOU BROUGHT INTO OUR LIVES FOR SOME YEARS. YOU WILL BE MISSED.

>> >> Sreenivasan: BEST-SELLING AUTHOR JACKIE COLLINS HAS DIED. HER RACY NOVELS SOLD 500 MILLION COPIES AROUND THE WORLD. HER BEST KNOWN WAS 1983's" HOLLYWOOD WIVES," WHICH SOLD 15 MILLION COPIES AND BECAME A TV MINI-SERIES. COLLINS DIED OF BREAST CANCER IN LOS ANGELES. SHE WAS 77. LAST NIGHT, THE NEWSHOUR'S GWEN IFILL WAS IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, HOSTING A TOWN HALL SPECIAL, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY ON ISSUES OF RACE AND CONFLICT FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF NINE CHURCHGOERS THERE IN JUNE. HERE'S A LOOK AT "AMERICA AFTER CHARLESTON":

>> MANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE ARE SURFACE LEVEL. I AGREE THAT BRINGING DOWN THE FLAG IS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION, BUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN THE PAST YEAR IS NOT THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER, BUT BLACK DEATHS MATTER.

>> Sreenivasan: "AMERICA AFTER CHARLESTON" AIRS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 9PM ON PBS.

>> AND FINALLY, TWO AMERICANS HELD HOSTAGE IN YEMEN FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS ARE FREE. SCOTT DARDEN WHO WORKED AS A SECURITY CONSULTANT WERE CAPTURED IN MARCH FIGHTING THE ENEMY GOVERNMENT. TONIGHT THEY ARRIVED IN THE PERSIAN STATE OF OMAN THAT BROKERED THEIR RELEASE.

>> AND ONLINE A CHAT WITH PETER LANDERS ON JAPAN'S NEW RIGHT TO DEPLOY TROOPS WHEN THEY'RE NOT UNDER ATTACK. THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEWSWEEK." THANK YOU FOR WATCHING Captioning sponsored by WNET Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

>> PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: LEWIS B. AND LOUISE HIRSCHFELD CULLMAN. BERNARD AND IRENE SCHWARTZ. JUDY AND JOSH WESTON. THE CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY. SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM, III. CORPORATE FUNDING IS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA-- DESIGNING CUSTOMIZED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP RETIREMENT PRODUCTS. THAT'S WHY WE ARE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: AND BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. female announcer: TRULY CALIFORNIA IS A KQED PRODUCTION PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH... [percussive rock music] ♪ NEXT ON TRULY CALIFORNIA... THEY PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY. - BELIEVE ME, IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE MEXICAN GROOMS, THERE WOULD BE NO HORSE RACING. announcer: AND THEY CAME TO THE UNITED STATES WITH HOPES FOR A BETTER LIFE. - [speaking Spanish] announcer: BUT AS UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS, THEY FACE RISKS ON AND OFF THE RACETRACK.