Our History
Started 35 years ago, it is marked by the daily violence of Brazil, the figure of the Catholic Church, the support of the local community, the Brazilian government, philanthropic organisations and volunteers from all over the world.
Our History
Started 35 years ago, it is marked by the daily violence of Brazil, the figure of the Catholic Church, the support of the local community, the Brazilian government, philanthropic organisations and volunteers from all over the world.
1978
16th June
ARRIVAL IN BRAZIL
Padre Renato Chiera arrives in Brazil, in the Baixada Fluminense. From the diocese of Mondovì, in Piedmont, he moved to Nova Iguaçu, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, to work as a parish priest alongside poor and marginalised people.
1982
1st November
THE ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATE
Padre Renato finds hidden in his garage a teenager known as Pirata, injured and wanted by the police. He takes him into his home and helps him to integrate into the community.
1984
January
ARRIVAL OF PADRE RENATO IN THE PARISH OF SÃO MIGUEL ARCANJO
1985
7th February
MARCADO PARA MORRER
A young man, on the list of those “marcados para morrer” (marked for death), turns to Father Renato and asks him: “Father, nobody is doing anything. I don’t want to die”. This sentence made Renato reflect on the Gospel phrase “What you did to the least of these you do to me…”. (MT,25,40).
1984-86
LITERACY ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN VARIOUS POOR COMMUNITIES
ATTIVITÀ DI ALFABETIZZAZIONE CON BAMBINI E ADULTI IN VARIE COMUNITÀ POVERE
1986
12th October
CASA DO MENOR IS OFFICIALLY BORN
In response to the cry for help from many children and young people, the Casa do Menor Sao Miguel Arcanjo was founded on 12 October 1986 on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, a name chosen by the children themselves who felt the lack of love.
1987
CASA DO MENOR EXPANDS
Thanks to the support of the diocese of Nova Iguaçu and the young people of the community, Father Renato’s project is growing and extending to other locations in Brazil.
1992
FIRST PROFESSIONAL COURSES
With the help of a social father who was a blacksmith by profession, Casa do Menor organised the first professional courses for young people and adolescents from the family and community homes.
1993
VILA CLAUDIA
Day centre in the favela of Vila Claudia where literacy, school reinforcement and professional courses in IT and civic participation are carried out, aimed at preventing children and young people from living on the streets and becoming involved in drug trafficking, which is very strong in this community.
1996
CASA DO MENOR TINGUÀ
This unit was created to house the André family home, dedicated to the treatment of male drug addiction, and the Jesus Menino family home for the psycho-physically disabled. Youth rehabilitation activities are carried out through horticulture, sports and participation in professional courses at the Miguel Couto centre.
1998
IRMÃ CELINA
A facility where children from a few months up to 5-6 years of age are cared for during the day to help parents look after their children properly and not leave them alone while they work. The children receive proper education and nutrition. The problems of malnutrition and neglect are among the major causes of social deviance in Brazil.
2001
CASA DO MENOR FORTALEZA
Built in 2001, the Children’s Village includes five family homes, a professional training centre, a play and sports centre, a ‘pousada’ for volunteers and a health clinic. It is part of the Condominium Espiritual Uirapuru (CEU), where 22 communities, born of old and new charisms, live together to respond to the city’s wide range of spiritual and social issues.
2002
CASA REVIVER
Inaugurated in 2002, this facility welcomes children in a situation of risk and social vulnerability. Today, it is a mixed home for siblings aged 5 to 11.
2006
ROSA DOS VENTOS
Inaugurated in 2006, this structure houses a kindergarten for 75 children and is home to vocational courses in IT, computer assembly and mechanics attended by around 180 young people per year. In the facility, professional operators carry out systematic psycho-pedagogic work with families to resolve any learning difficulties they may have.
2006
JOVEM APRENDIZ
1500 participants in the first year. More than 50,000 young people whom Casa do Menor has so far helped to enter the world of work.
2008
SANTANA DE IPANEMA
Casa do Menor starts a prevention and education project among children and adolescents in the Sertão region of Alagoas, particularly in the city of Santana do Ipanema. This is a region of extreme poverty and misery, where family break-ups are the cause of frequent cases of domestic violence, also due to alcohol abuse. Casa do Menor’s intervention is therefore aimed at those children and adolescents who find themselves in a situation of social risk, candidates to become children “in” the street.
2013
GUARATIBA
Unit accommodating a dedicated family home to the treatment of drug addiction and the rehabilitation of adolescents from serious risk situations, involved in crime and victims of violence. Rehabilitation activities are carried out through sport and participation in professional courses at the Miguel Couto centre.
