Keeping children off the streets - Brazil - Missionszentrale Schönstätter Marienschwestern

Donate now!

The Children’s Centre „Sun Corner“ (CEFASOL) in Santa Maria/RS-Brazil is located on Angelin Bortholuzzi Street, 485 and was opened in 2008 by the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. Today it is not only a reference place for Camobi, but also contributes to the social development of families. Above all, pedagogical proposals promote the inner security, creativity, education and personal development of many children, youth and their families.

Recipients

Up to 200 children from poor families with no future prospects

Location

Rua Angelim Bortoluzi, 485 Statteil Camobi
Santa Maria/RS

Responsible

Sister M. Mathilde Mang

How you can help with your donation

For 15 EURO we can provide the children with milk for one day.

With a donation of 100 EURO you contribute to the to the wages of the professionals and help to secure their jobs.

With 150 EURO per month you secure a child a place in our center.

Donate now!

The centre was founded by Sister M. Victoria Koch, who had been working in Bairro Camobi since 1999 and gave religious instruction in the „Vila Jardim“ settlement:

„I saw so many children who were starving. They spent half a day at school and then were on the street without anything to eat while their parents went to work. The children from the „Vila Jardim“ settlement had no Christmas and this was so sad for me.„
Sr. M. Vitória Koch

Development

From humble beginnings, a centre has developed over the years in which we can look after up to 200 children and youth between the ages of 2 and 14. In this way, we prevent them from being exposed to the dangers of life on the streets. At the centre, we provide healthy, adequate nutrition, medical and psychological care and comprehensive education. The „Sun Corner“ was built with the contributions of many benefactors. Today, several companies based in Santa Maria and the surrounding area support us. The cultural sector of the city of Santa Maria finances some music teachers. Nevertheless, we are still dependent on donations. The prices in the country are constantly rising. We need 2,500 euros a month just to pay the teachers! To be able to cook our daily lunch alone, we pay 200 euros a month for gas.

What we offer children and youth

We sisters look after the centre together with volunteers. We also employ three teachers, a psychologist and a social worker, as well as a cook, a kitchen assistant and two cleaners. Together, we focus on the goal of our “Sun Corner”:

„Sun Corner – in a dark corner, the joyfully shining sun penetrates into the hearts of the children“.

Sr. M. Vitória Koch

There are currently 53 children aged 2 to 5 cared for in three groups. They receive four meals a day. The 137 children and youth aged 6 to 14 years come to us alternately in the mornings or afternoons, take part in the activities and receive two meals each.

The older children are offered work groups:

Homework help, learning to play a musical instrument
Fostering Brazilian culture and folklore, e.g. practising traditional dances such as gaucho dances
Theater courses
Singing lessons
Computer courses
Sports
Discussion of special everyday topics, e.g. violence and drugs, solidarity and gratitude, use of the media
From the age of 15, we help young people find an apprenticeship and continue their education at night school.

Some news: The university is near our children’s center, and the dentistry course visits us every 14 days with their teacher. They conduct check-ups and provide guidance on dental and oral care. Other courses also come to observe, or they teach under the guidance of their teacher, for example, about the rights of children and young people, or personal hygiene.

Background information

AUnconsciously, all children carry heavy burdens with them. They are exposed to traumatic experiences at home or on the streets. Drugs, sexuality, abuse, violence, child labour are just some of the keywords. Very often they tell us what they experienced on the weekend or at night. Many of them have a father or mother in prison or they don’t even know their father or mother. Some of the youth were able to learn a lot for their lives with us, completed a university degree, obtained a good job and were able to start a well-structured family.