We are pleased to share another grant project we are supporting, highlighting the impactful work of the Santa Fé Beneficent Association (Santa Fé). For over 30 years, Santa Fé has been a cornerstone of social justice in Brazil, dedicated to supporting vulnerable children and adolescents. Their mission focuses on upholding the Child and Adolescent Statute (Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente, ECA), combating violence, and breaking cycles of poverty to ensure every child’s development and autonomy.

The ECA is a comprehensive legal framework in Brazil that guarantees a wide range of rights for children and adolescents, including protection from abuse and neglect, and access to education and health services. It emphasizes the role of family and community in supporting children’s development and outlines the state's responsibilities in providing protective measures and services.

Santa Fé operates across four key areas: managing residential care centers for children aged 0-18, supporting infants through volunteer family homes, offering aftercare for those who have left shelters, and assisting families to promote sustainable reunification. Their holistic approach addresses the needs of children affected by neglect and abuse, aiming for long-term positive change.

The project

With funding from the Cultural Care Kids First Foundation, Santa Fé will enhance its two residential care centers by acquiring freezers, refrigerators, and new furniture, as well as by building a library. Additionally, the Cultural Care office in São Paulo is hosting a book drive to collect Portuguese books from staff and former and future au pairs to fill the library. These improvements will help create a more supportive and homelike environment for the children they serve, fostering resilience and well-being.