Social initiatives support children in Brazilian institutional care

Various social initiatives in Brazil are focusing on the support and development of children and adolescents living in institutional care.

In Gravataí, the ‘Projeto Apadrinhar’ seeks volunteers to act as affective godparents. Established by the Court of Justice of Rio Grande do Sul and the Organization for Adoption Support and Social Assistance (ELO), the project aims to build emotional bonds and provide reliable references for youth without requiring financial obligations or legal adoption. The program emphasizes companionship through leisure activities and emotional support, with a particular focus on adolescents.

In Bahia, the ‘Projeto Despertar’—a partnership between the Court of Justice of Bahia (TJBA) and the National Rural Learning Service (Senar)—conducted educational and citizenship activities for youth at the José Vicente Shelter in Luís Eduardo Magalhães. The initiative included socio-environmental awareness and dynamics regarding the importance of rural production, aligning with recent legislative updates to the Statute of the Child and Adolescent regarding environmental rights.