After 3 years working in Vietnam, helping 2 Orphanages and building 16 Loving Houses, we are moving on to help the poor and disadvantaged in Brazil. Each year LHP will identify honest and needy institutions and work to make a difference in those people’s lives.
This year, LHP will help “Casa Criança Feliz” in Dourados – Mato Grosso do Sul. The Casa Criança Feliz, a non-for-profit organization since 1996, is a daycare that attends an average of 180 children per day. These children, from 6 to 16 years old, come from very poor families in the community. Most families are of single parents who would not be able to work if their children didn’t have a place to stay, or they would end up on the streets. But at Casa Criança Feliz they receive 2 balanced meals per day, assistance with their homework and health /dental care. They all come to Casa Criança Feliz in the morning and have breakfast together. After that, they take turns going to school, some go in the morning and the others in the afternoon. Lunch is prepared and served with the help of Mr. Claudio, the cook, and many volunteers.
While at Casa Criança Feliz, they practice sports and attend professional training such as computer classes, music, gardening, cooking, arts and sewing. The institution also works with the parents providing educational workshops and visits from a social worker to the families in their community. While the children are cared for and fed at Casa Criança Feliz, the mothers can work and help increase the families’ income.
The Casa Criança Feliz seeks to improve these children’s self-steem and prepare them to enter the job market with a positive and responsible atitude. Although they work in partnership with the local government, most of their funds come from spontaneuous donations.
But this year they have a challenge. In order to keep their permit and continue to help these children, the local Health Department requires that the wood walls of the dining facility be replaced with cement and tile construction.
Loving House Project goal in 2011 is to raise $5,000 USD to remodel their dining area.
We count on your support to help Casa Criança Feliz continue to improve the lives of these children.