Community initiatives support children in institutional care

In São Paulo, Brazil, the ‘Projeto Era Uma Vez’ has been established at the Casa do Pequeno Cidadão to preserve the memories of children and adolescents in institutional care. The project creates individual albums for each resident, collecting photographs, drawings, messages, and records of significant experiences and relationships. This initiative aims to prevent the period of care from becoming a gap in the individual's personal history, fostering a sense of identity and belonging. Volunteers undergo structured training to assist in building these albums while understanding the protective nature of institutional care.

In the Azores, Portugal, the Casa do Gaiato is conducting its fourth edition of the ‘Presépio Solidário’ initiative. This program invites the community to fulfill Christmas wishes for 35 children and young adults in the institution's care. Participants select a figure from a nativity scene to sponsor a specific gift requested by a resident. While the community has been highly responsive, providing clothing, educational materials, and games, organizers noted that support from the Azores Social Security Institute remains insufficient to meet the actual needs of the institution.