Casa Da Famìlia

Yesterday I went to Casa Da Famìlia, that was a wonderful experience.

So many sweet and innocent children live there, and it was great to see them smile and make them laugh. And I can’t wait to come visit them again, especially my little homegirl Victoria - ‘Vicky’ :-) Here is some information about the project:

What

This project aims to raise funds for Casa da Família as to allow them to acquire needed

equipment and tools, as well as to develop leisure and educational activities with the

children/adolescents living there.

Casa da Família is a shelter kept by SOCIEDADE VOLUNTÁRIA DE ASSISTÊNCIA AO MENOR –

SVAM (Volunteer Society for Assistance to Minors). It was founded in 1996 as an association to

work in defense of social rights of children and adolescents in personal and social risk

situations.

Its President is Mrs Ana Kelma Sousa da Silva Ballerio, who is a Pedagogue. The

Association is registered at the Social Assistance City Board, the City Board for Children’s and

Adolescents’ Rights, and the Social Assistance National Board.

Casa da Família is a temporary “shelter” for poor children and adolescents that have suffered

any kind of violence, abuse or abandonment. Children and adolescents remain there for

different periods of time depending on each specific situation. Currently there are around 50

children and adolescents there. At the shelter they

are offered assistance services according to the

federal, state and local laws. Casa da Família offers

its sheltered an environment similar to a house and

full protection which includes: accommodation and

meals; guidance and support; access to public and

private services (education and health); workshops

(socialization, dance, arts, reading, recreation) and

trips; hygiene orientation programs; varied courses;

family reinstatement and substitute families in

cooperation with lawyers and Law interns, and

through Justice.

SVAM develops its work together with public organs and private institutions. One of the main

aims is to make possible for children and adolescents to integrate/reintegrate into community

life.

Why

Voluntary work means devoting part of one’s time and abilities to do something on someone

else’s behalf without receiving anything material in exchange. Apart from this, there are other

types of voluntary work that, though aiming to improve the situation of people, do not imply

having to devote one’s time and abilities to attending them

directly. Here we include different categories of voluntary

service such as environmental, cultural, leisure and

community work. But in the context of this project,

voluntary social work can be considered as the type of

service devoted to people with special needs.

This means that what characterizes voluntary social work is

precisely the fact that its focus is on giving direct attention

to individuals whose basic needs, whether physical,

psychological, cultural, economic, etc., are not covered.

By working with children and adolescents in personal and

social risk situations (whether due to direct cruelty or

because of the circumstances a child may have had to live

in), we can help to bring them a more positive and, most of

all, more dignified view of the world in which they live. In this case, voluntary work is often a

source of hope for these people.

Who

Exchange students, their host families and colleagues/friends from schools are invited to join

this voluntary work project.