ChildrensAid

Ricardo Calçado – born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  - engaged into social activities in 2000 at the age of 19, while being a undergraduate student in international business at Plymouth University, UK, where he lived from 1998 until 2006.

His first initiative was a public campaign to help flood victims from Mozambique which involved the participation of an entire community in Teingnmouth, UK composed by schools, children, parents, government institutions and NGOs. Named as Put some smiles on kids faces and part of the Millennium Volunteers Project, the campaign received  many donations that were used to provide amenities for families living on devastated villages and public shelters. Media coverage of this initiative was a fundamental tool that allowed him to start building a network of supporters and volunteers.

With the success of his social endeavors, Ricardo decided to abdicate his career in international business to start devoting time on a research about the social aspects and problems in Brazil and around the globe. Having travelled to more than 32 countries of 5 different continents visiting various projects and participated on different conferences contributed to expand his understanding of the challenges and to come up with a model to foster social change.

In 2004, this model became reality with the foundation of Childrens Aid and Ricardo's full-time dedication to the cause of poor brazilian children, focusing in education, athletics and citizenship projects.

Onda Solidária

In the meantime, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Ana Asti was studying Fair Trade organizations, and applying her studies to develop a fair trade community in partnership with a regional NGO (“Viva Rio”) and a governamental agency (“SEBRAE-RJ”)  for low-income local artisans.

Ana together with Jérôme Schatzman, from Fair Planet – a french organization that promotes Fair Trade – was looking foward to opening an organization for investing in the socio-economic development of brazilian artisans. Her intent to create a Fair Trade organization soon combined with Ricardo Calçado's efforts to help brazilian children, resulting in the foundation of Childrens Aid in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2004.

But what does children and fair trade have in common?
The answer is EVERYTHING!

Not only Childrens Aid was focusing its activities in Brazil, but it was also expanding its horizon and vision. At that point, we began to build a global society much fairer and more socially responsible by investing in education and social inclusion of children, and in the economic development of families and local commercial centers.

For example, our first fair trade project launched a clothing trademark called “TUDO BOM?” in partnership with Fair Planet. Clothing products were manufactured by following the principles of independence and sustainability and sold in the sophisticated fashion market in France at stores specialized in fair trade, and via the website: www.tudobom-shop.com.

Subsequently, Childrens Aid expanded its network of volunteers and established projects that aimed at diminishing the effects of social inequality by empowering local and small artisans into fair trade production centers. Moreover, we also invested in campaigns to raise awareness about the benefits of fair trade to the environment and to society.

Ondiña solidaria

In 2006, a new Childrens Aid center, called “Ondiña Solidaria”, was opened in Spain by Esther González Cabrera, who was a volunteer for three years at Childrens Aid as an educator.

She manages social activities and campaigns, mainly in the region of Andalucia, that promote brazilian culture,and social awareness ifor local schools, reaching more than 2,000 children.

Timeline

July 2004
ChildrensAid started the Mumuquinha Project at the Avicres Orphanage (Nova Iguacu)

November 2004
ChildrensAid and Fair Planet founded “Onda Solidaria” in Brazil

January 2005
ChildrensAid joined the Mamae Margarida Project in Pará

March 2006
ChildrensAid founded the ŒOndiña Solidaria¹ in Spain

July 2006
ChildrensAid raises funds in the UK through a number of World Cup football parties in Leicester Square (London)

October 2006
ChildrensAid hosts its first Jiu-Jistu championship in Japan and raises funds and donated school materials for the children in Brazil

Outubro 2007
The beginning of S.O.S. Children's Village partnership and Galera Solidaria

Novembro 2007
Partnership with the Pallotinas which includes the Vilinha Project and our office in Cosme Velho.

First forum for the participants of Galera Solidaria in Juiz de Fora – MG, Brazil

September 2009

Opening of our brand new website integrating the activities of our three centers (Brazil/England/Spain)

Outstanding Projects and Facts

2004
ChildrensAidstarted the Mumuquinha Project at the Avicres Orphanage (Nova
Iguacu, RJ, Brazil)

2005
ChildrensAind inaugurated the Mumuquinha Stadium at the Avicres Orphanage, a
sports and leisure area for the children

2006
July - The first session of the Cineminha Project took place
October - ChildrensAid partners up with AVAO fundraising coordinator in the UK to help
raise funds for AVAO  
December - ChildrensAid and Standard Bank strike a partnership to help the children
from the Biriguinho project

2007
July - Vovo Lucia enter our Dream investing in the ³Vilinha² project and the
structure of ChildrensAid / Onda Solidaria in Rio.
August - Aquisition of the “Social Vehicle”, which makes a huge transformation in our
actions.

2008
Second Leadership Forum for children from the SOS Children's Village of Jacarepagua, Pedra Bonita and Juiz de Fora

2009
Thrid Leadership Forum for children from the SOS Children's Village of Jacarepagua, Pedra Bonita and Juiz de Fora