Brazil: Social centre for acerola producing communities

A centre for education, sports and hope in Brazil.

The acerola fruit is a natural ingredient often used for treating Vitamin-C deficiencies. With the appearance of a small red cherry, acerola is grown in the North-East of Brazil, where we partner with a local foundation to bring aid to socially-vulnerable communities.

Older people happily taking part in a sport activity

Financing a Social Education Centre since 2019
Acerola-producing communities of the Petrolina region have limited access to education, due to insufficient social infrastructure which can adversely affect children’s future prospects. To help tackle these issues, we agreed to support the construction of a Social Education Centre in partnership with a local foundation that specialises in educational and professional training, as well as sports, leisure and culture programs for vulnerable children and adults. They supervised the Centre’s construction, and today hire qualified teachers and promote the centre locally. We provide funds and expertise in project management to ensure that the project delivers impact, and is ultimately self-sustaining.

 

Supporting socially-vulnerable community members via sport
Since the Centre opened in 2021, more than 500 socially-vulnerable children, adults and elderly people from acerola-producing communities have benefitted from its services. In 2022, we renewed our support for the addition of a multi-sports room, currently under construction, which will be completed in 2023. The room will host sports activities such as judo, gym and capoeira, as well as theatre classes and ballet.

 

Along with educational benefits, the Centre offers a great service in bringing people together, socially. The generations mingle and in doing so it helps to improve personal skills, health and enables people to interact and enjoy each other’s company.

Mary-Elde, President of the Partner Organisation

 

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Find out more about our livelihood projects in communities where Givaudan sources natural ingredients: