Since the beginning of our presence in São Paulo, our community has given importance to social service. In a context marked by great social ills, such as in many peripheral areas of the large cities in the southern hemisphere of the world, we work in service of the most disadvantaged sectors of the local population, with special attention given to children and adolescents.
We believe in the importance of education on values and prevention of social risks. Our aim is to involve the population in becoming the protagonist of the growth of their own community life. Our programs aim to place the human person at the center of everything, to value their talents, to provide opportunities for development, and an active role in building a more just and fraternal society.
Ongoing social projects
The “Juvenil Santa Julia” Child Center: for the protection of children and youth
The Center was born in March 2001 in the municipality of Itapecerica da Serra for socio-pedagogical purposes, and its services are for children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 in situations of vulnerability and social exclusion.
The educational activities of the Centre, divided into two teams, offer children:
– A complete meal for a healthy and balanced diet
– Pedagogical and academic support
– Workshops for art, computer skills, and cooking
– Cultural activities
– Sports activities
These activities are carried out in collaboration with other local associations involved in the social development of the area.
The beneficiaries:
– We welcome 180 children and adolescents every day
– We support 180 families through training and listening meetings, and offer the help of a social worker and a psychologist.
In 20 years of activity, we have:
– Hosted more than 3,000 children and young people
– Supported 2,500 families
– Regularly helped 2,000 other families.
“Juventude da Hora”: Building the future of adolescents and young people.
The project, launched in 2014, offers young people in the area a program of activities aimed at promoting connection, relational development, self-knowledge, self-esteem, and personal identity, while reducing their social exclusion.
It is a response to the lack of social and cultural services for adolescents and young people in a population highly exposed to marginalization. The territory of the two municipalities of Embu-Guaçu and Itapecerica da Serra, where we operate, is far from administrative and cultural centers, resulting in the exclusion of the local population from many opportunities. The situation of young people is marked by unemployment, a high rate of violence, and drug addiction.
Participants have the opportunity to attend artistic and cultural workshops (such as ballet, singing, dancing, theater, keyboard and guitar lessons) as well as sports activities. The project is aimed at children, teenagers, and young adults from 6 to 20 years old who participate in the activities outside of school. Additionally, there is support for families, particularly those in need, through home visits and social assistance networks.
Approximately 250 socially vulnerable children participate in the activities each year. Workshops are also open to young adults and adults, with around one hundred people attending annually.
Access to university education in Itapecerica da Serra
Access to university education is difficult for students from the suburbs of São Paulo, due to the weakness of the education acquired in high schools. That’s why, since 2019, the Community Missionary of Villaregia has been supporting a project that allows students from the area to participate in specific courses that prepare them adequately for the university entrance exam. Study spaces and access to a library are also provided.
There are about a hundred participants each year, who in the majority of cases are young girls.
Other social activities
Since 2018, the Community has been supporting the social action of “Ninho da Esperança,” a local association that provides free assistance to children, adolescents, and adults with various physical and intellectual disabilities.
They are offered socio-educational activities and workshops that become therapeutic paths. A group of professional and volunteer collaborators provides the assisted individuals with a daily space for social inclusion and strengthening of family and social ties.
The project aims to provide food assistance to the most impoverished families in the region through periodic donations of basic food items.
Volunteers from our parish organize door-to-door food collections every month. Food baskets prepared from the collection are distributed to families in need.
A group of person, involved in this pastoral program, schedules monthly door-to-door donation collections, and then distributes food baskets containing basic food items to the most needy families.
The initiative aims to allow the most disadvantaged sectors of the population, who cannot afford to buy clothes and accessories, to obtain necessary clothing at symbolic prices through a clothing bazaar.
Thanks to the “Alcoholics Anonymous” group, a space for exchange, listening, and support is offered to people who have developed this addiction. Meetings are held weekly and aim to help individuals overcome this problem which has serious consequences on their personal and family life.
Opened in 2009, it is a coordination center for the activities of the Social Pastoral, which provides free legal advice twice a week.
This is the support program implemented for the population affected by COVID-19. More than 750 families were helped to cope with the consequences of the severe social crisis.
Thanks to the campaign “Our solidarity is not sick”, we collected hygiene and cleaning products, financial contributions, food, and basic necessities for the benefit of the local population.
