Fundação Abrinq is the largest Brasilian foundation working for children’s rights. It funds and coordinates many different programs, but here I will only address “Nossas Crianças,” the aspect of the foundation that deals directly with street kids; today, NGOs affiliated with Abrinq serve some 28,000 at-risk children.
Nossas Crianças began as an effort to give money to organizations successfully serving at-risk kids, but Abrinq soon discovered that money was insufficient. Instead, it began to invest money in training NGO staffs and in routinizing their institutional structures. This training opposes assistencialismo and promotes professionalism, helping institutions at all levels, from janitorial services to business administration. Of equal significance, Abrinq’s money and public profile allow it to promote successful programs as national models. Today, 69 NGOs in the São Paulo area benefit from the Nossa Crianças network.
Abrinq makes a major effort to insure that its funds and technical assistance do not provoke dependence. They promote exchanges among the different network members, a horizontal, not vertical network. They also strengthen local leaders. The network has three goals:
- to enable contracts and partnerships, whether horizontally, with Abrinq, or with the government
- to share intellectual capital and promote institutional development
- political action and pressure
Abrinq’s money comes from a well-developed network of socially conscious businesses (this is one of the few cases of significant local, non-religious philanthropy in Latin America); when possible, Abrinq connects these businesses directly with NGO members for donations of services, old office equipment, volunteers, etc.
Seven times as many organizations apply for help from Abrinq than the foundation is able to help, in spite of a US$6,000,000 budget ($2,000,000 is in Nossas Crianças)
Rua Lisboa 224
Jardim América
05413-000 São Paulo, SP
Tel-fax 11 3081 0699
Contact: Itamar Batista Gonçalves (itamar@fundabrinq.org.br)
