Caritas Brazil
{{Short description|Brazilian Catholic social welfare and relief organisation.}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Caritas Brazil
| full_name =
| native_name = Cáritas Brasileira
| native_name_lang = por
| logo = Caritas Brazil Logo.png
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| established = {{start date and age|12 November 1956}}{{cite web |url= https://caritas.org.br/regionais |title= Regionais |language= Portuguese |website= caritas.org.br |access-date= 19 December 2024}}
| founder = Episcopal Conference of Brazil
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| type = Nonprofit
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| purpose = social welfare, social justice
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| headquarters =
| location_city = Brasília
| location_country = Brazil
| coordinates = {{coord|-15.7948|-47.8844|display=inline}}
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| services = social services, humanitarian aid
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| affiliations = Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Latin America and Caribbean
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| website = {{URL|https://caritas.org.br/}}
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Caritas Brazil ({{langx|pt|Cáritas Brasileira}}) is a not-for-profit social welfare organisation in Brazil. It is a service of the Catholic Church in Brazil and a member of both Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Latin America and Caribbean.
History and work
Caritas Brasil was founded in 1956 at the initiative of Bishop Hélder Câmara, who was at the time the Secretary-General of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB).{{cite web |url= https://www.cnbb.org.br/caritas-brasileira-completa-64-anos-de-esperanca-resistencia-e-profetismo/ |title= Cáritas Brasileira completa 64 anos de esperança, resistência e profetismo |date= 11 November 2020 |language= Portuguese |website= National Conference of Bishops of Brazil |access-date= 24 December 2024}}{{cite web |url= https://www.devex.com/organizations/caritas-brasileira-regional-do-maranhao-114972 |title= Caritas Brasileira Regional do Maranhao |website= Devex |access-date= 19 December 2024}} It operates as a federation of 198 member organisations, structured into 13 regional divisions and four national articulations. Its work spans 450 municipalities, focusing on supporting the most impoverished communities.{{cite web |url= https://www.developmentaid.org/donors/view/55981/caritas-brasileira |title= Cáritas Brasileira |website= developmentaid.org |access-date= 19 December 2024}} The organisation and its members implement their work through more than 15,000 workers, most of whom are volunteers.{{cite web |url= https://www.endslaverynow.org/c%C3%A1ritas-brasileira |title= Cáritas Brasileira |website= endslaverynow.org |access-date= 19 December 2024}}
Initially centred on informal charitable practices guided by Christian principles, Caritas began professionalising its activities in the 1970s. This shift included specialised training for regional and diocesan staff, which laid the groundwork for more structured programmes in the 1980s and 1990s. Key initiatives include technical schools and training sessions aimed at enhancing methodologies for sustainable development.{{cite journal |last1= Santos Ferreira |first1= Andressa de Sous |last2= Pinheiro São João |first2= Cleiton Agnelo |date= March 2016 |title= A trajetoria da CÁRITAS no fortalecimiento da economia popular solidária no Brasil |url= https://www.socioeco.org/bdf_fiche-document-4901_pt.html |journal= I congresso internacional de economia popular e solidária e desenvolvimento local: diálogo Brasil Cuba|language= Portuguese |access-date= 24 December 2024}}
A cornerstone of its efforts is the promotion of the Economia Popular Solidária (solidarity economy). This approach fosters small-scale community projects (PACs) that receive financial, technical, and strategic support to drive local development and improve livelihoods. In the 1990s, evaluations of these projects highlighted their broader societal impact, prompting partnerships with public policies to strengthen cooperative enterprises and expand economic opportunities.
Caritas work encompasses three primary mechanisms: structured programmes, public mobilisation, and the National Solidarity Fund. These initiatives target various areas, such as food security, risk management, youth empowerment, and refugee support.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official website|https://caritas.org.br/}}
{{commonscat|Caritas in Brazil}}
{{Caritas Internationalis Member Organisations}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Charities based in Brazil
Category:Organizations established in 1956
Category:1956 establishments in Brazil
Category:Catholic Church in Brazil
Category:Social justice organizations
Category:Christian organisations based in Brazil
Category:Humanitarian aid organizations