Estimated 80 Thousand Brazilian Children in Shelters

According to journalist Ana Carmen Foschini "About 80 thousand Brazilian chidren are in shelters. Many of these children can not be adopted because of their undefined legal situation - namely the Ministry of Justice has not finished investigating the possibility of reinserting them back into the original family and so they remain in limbo. Often this situation lasts for such a long time many children sadly grow within the institution..."

Ana Carmen also points out that, "Brazilian judges themselves, aware of these difficulties, decided to launch a campaign called "Mude um Destino" (Change a Destiny) to encourage people to get children living in shelters to live with them as a guardian family."

Last weekend in Guaruja (an island in the state of Sao Paulo) a group of people who have been trying to help orphan children and children victims of domestic violence find a new temporary or permanent home were celebrating their victories in the past 17 years of hard work - the work - to provide a safe environment for kids waiting judicial decisions and/or a new home.

pic (girls dance)

"Judges, politicians, doctors, teachers, impresarios, all the society from Guaruja and nearby cities like Santos and Cubatao went to Casa Grande Hotel in Guaruja for a night of music, dance and food to raise not only money but also the awareness of the need for action." That is the meaning of this gathering said Mr Pego the founder of ALMA -Associacao dos Amigos do Lar do Menor Assistido (Association of Friends of the Assisted Children Home) founded in 1991.

pic (people at the table)

"ALMA provides quality of life for the children assisted, children up to 7 years in full time shelter. It gives families both time and opportunity; Time for judicial disputes to be resolved. And opportunity for families restoration so they may seek back the child rightful guard again. ALMA also provides the city government with adequate location for the placement of children victimized by their families and for orphans. The service is provided to ." ALMA's president Mr. Carlos Rodrigues said.

pic (4 people)

Above ALMA's first president Mr. Joel de Melo Franco, Ms. Maria Antonieta de Brito - Guaruja's Mayor, Walter Damasceno Pego - ALMA's idealizer and Mr. Carlos Rodrigues the persident in charge.

pic (people dancing)

"As we celebrate the anniversary of 17 years of existence of this institution I am happy as the Mayor of Guaruja to be here and guarantee the continuous support of the city municipal administration. The state can not coupe with the demands presented by such task. We sure need to recognize and motivate good action like ALMA's," said the mayor.

"What sure is true is that the need is there worldwide and the will to help hopefully is in us all. Sometimes we get lost, who to help or how. Sure a good way is to look for serious institutions and give some of our money and , if possible, some of our time and better yet a place in our own family. We can make a different in people's lives one way or another," said Mr. Rui Silva Director of Culture of Guaruja who first invited us to cover this event.

PIC (webpage)
ALMA's Blog

Many kids have already been adopted by foreign families - as you will se in the video bellow - and some people outside Brazil do send eventual support for the work to continue. The local authorities support is a good indicator of the seriousness of ALMA's intent and actions. I personally use KIVA to send money to projects in Kenya and Bolivia and I help another institution locally, it is up to each of us to make a decision. We can have an effect on someone's destiny if we want. I hope you make a good choice and do.

At YoutubeMr. Walter Pego, the founder of the children shelter, tells us a bit about it trajectory. ( www.youtube.com/watch )

You may check what the fundraiser party was like here.. By the pictures you may have a good idea of who's who and how it went on.