A CHARITY set up by a York expat to help victims of child prostitution in Brazil will open its safe house within days.

ReVive International was founded by Andy Roberts, of Badger Hill, and his wife, Rose, in the city of Olinda, in north east Brazil.

The charity bought the house thanks to £50,000 of donations, which included funds through St Michael le Belfrey Church in York, and it has now completed work on the house so it can receive its first residents.

The organisation aims to help vulnerable children who have fallen victim to sexual exploitation, trafficking and abuse, and will provide counselling, medical treatment, education and training for girls who have been rescued from prostitution.

Mr Roberts said in the charity’s latest newsletter: “ReVive has finally received the necessary documentation and registrations from the local government to work with children.

“This means that we should have the first girls in the ReVive house within the next week or so – great news!

“We’ve just completed two weeks of staff training and now the staff team is complete, trained and already working in their shifts to get the house ready for the first girls’ arrival an exciting time! Thanks to all of you who have made this possible.”

>> Read more about ReVive's work here.