Founded in 1956, Caritas Brasileira is a body of the Brazilian Conference of Bishops (CNBB). The entity operates through 10 regional offices and 170 member entities.

Budget

US$16 million

Paid Staff

Fewer than 500

Volunteers

More than 1,000

Beneficiaries

500,000

Mission

“To bear witness and announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ by defending and promoting life and participation in the construction of a just, equitable and pluralistic society in solidarity with people experiencing social exclusion.”

Brazil is home to one of the world’s highest income inequalities. The richest 10 percent receive 50 percent of the national income. The poorest 10 percent receive less than one percent. Indigenous populations suffer persecution and abuse, slave labor still exists in some parts of the country, and increase in urban poverty has led to marginalization of several vulnerable groups.


Programmes

  • Urban poverty – Cáritas works with 5,700 collectors of recyclable materials. The entity offers educational activities on health care, hygiene, protective equipment for recycling (gloves, safety glasses etc.) and technical and management support for production projects.
  • Living with the Semi-arid – Cáritas works with 65,000 people in the semi-arid regions of the country. The entity implements projects based on sustainable development with solidarity – by building rainwater tanks, wells, dams, and educational programs focused on family farming, irrigation, and raising of small animals;
  • Popular economy with solidarity - Cáritas provides technical and financial support to economy with solidarity projects. The goal is to promote family income generation in areas with high levels of social exclusion. The programs encourage democratic and participative management processes based on collective, popular, and supportive organization. From 2004 to 2007, approximately 10,000 associated workers (2,000 groups) were supported through the strengthening of cooperative production, marketing, and consumption networks.
  • Emergencies – Cáritas Brasileira’s national network of offices also promotes humanitarian aid campaigns for environmental disasters. Resources are directed towards relief actions in Brazil or other countries. Cáritas is one of the greatest promoters of emergency campaigns in Brazil;
  • Children – in order to raise awareness on citizenship and rights of children and adolescents, Cáritas works with boys and girls through social mobilization actions, popular and community educational campaigns; From 2003 to 2007, over 36,000 children, adolescents, and young people participated in the actions.
  • Political participation – Participative democracy is a fundamental value for Cáritas, both in its decision-making and management processes and in its social mobilization activities. Cáritas encourages political engagement and public debate, whether at community, regional, or national level.
  • Right to food – Cáritas works with vulnerable communities to ensure that they have access to food by promoting sustainable farming, access to land, electricity, and production resources. From 2005 to 2007, approximately 20,000 peasant families were benefited.