CRS Partners in Brazil

Catholic Relief Services Brazil relies on many local partners to implement its projects. By working closely with these partners, CRS makes the most of existing networks to get the best results in both urban and rural settings.

Cáritas Brasileira (Caritas Brazil)

With national headquarters in the capital city of Brasilia and with regional, state and local offices throughout Brazil, Caritas Brazil was established in November 1956. Caritas Brazil is an entity of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops. The mission of Caritas Brazil is to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ by defending life, promoting sound global relationships and participating in the construction of a just society that embraces those in need.

CRS Brazil currently cooperates with the national Caritas on various activities, including a CRS-funded institutional strengthening project called Globalizing Solidarity, an emergency-preparedness project funded by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, and a U.S. Department of Labor–funded project to combat slave labor in Brazil.

Pastoral de DSTs/AIDS

Based in Porto Alegre in the Rio Grande do Sul state but operating nationally, the Pastoral de DSTs/AIDS (the Pastoral for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS) is an entity of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The goals of the Pastoral de DSTs/AIDS are to evangelize, to be attentive to the needs of people living with HIV and to encourage the prevention of HIV. The Pastoral de DSTs/AIDS is committed to the principle that life will prevail on the basis of Christ's teaching: "I came so that all may have life."

CRS Brazil and the Pastoral de DSTs/AIDS have cooperated for several years on a project entitled Building Solidarity with the Church in the Fight Against AIDS.

Centro de Defesa da Vida e dos Direitos Humanos de Açailândia (CDVDH)

Located in the town of Açailândia in the western Maranhão state and with links to the Comboni lay Catholic community, the Centro de Defesa da Vida e dos Direitos Humanos de Açailândia (Center for Defense of Life and Human Rights of Açailândia) promotes and defends the human rights of the people of western Maranhão state. The center's efforts to combat slave labor include providing social service referrals for those freed from slave labor, supporting income- and employment-generation projects to help reduce the lure of slave labor among "at-risk" populations, assisting those wishing to make a formal denunciation of alleged slave labor practices, and promoting local awareness and prevention campaigns against slave labor.

Centro de Direitos Humanos de Araguaína (CDHA)

Based in the town of Araguaina in Tocantins state, the Centro de Direitos Humanos de Araguaín (the Human Rights Center of Araguaína) is a successful referral center for actual and potential victims of slave labor. The center also works to support land reform and promotes the rights of the landless and rural poor.

CRS Brazil and CDHA have been cooperating on the U.S. Department of Labor–funded Trails of Liberty project, aimed at stamping out the practice of slave labor.

Associação Caatinga

Created in Fortaleza in Ceara state, the Associação Caatinga (Caatinga Association) is a registered, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization whose mission is to ensure the conservation of plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity in the caatinga, a distinct landscape within northeast Brazil's semiarid region.

Associação Caatinga supports education, training and research, as well as the identification and management of protected areas. The association is building a broad network of partners to inform and mobilize the public in the interest of the conservation of the caatinga.

CRS Brazil and Associação Caatinga continue their cooperation in a project in the semiarid region of northeast Brazil. The project promotes more efficient production of standard crops such as corn and beans, but also development of home vegetable gardens and small fruit orchards through improved water catchment methods.

Movimento da Organização Comunitária (MOC)

Founded in 1967 in the town of Feira de Santana in Bahia state, Movimento da Organização Comunitária (the Movement for Community Organization) arose from the social work of the Catholic Church, but since 1970 has been autonomous. MOC has a special commitment to the sisal-producing region, encouraging the public to become aware of and exercise their rights as citizens. MOC provides training, educational assessment incentives and support for specific projects that strengthen citizenship, improve quality of life and eradicate social exclusion.

CRS and MOC cooperate on a project that develops potable water sources and promotes gender balance.

Commissão Brasileira de Justiça e Paz

An agency of the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops, Commissão Brasileira de Justiça e Paz (the Brazilian National Peace and Justice Commission) encourages Christians to effectively participate in major issues of social policy in Brazil. Comprised primarily of lay people, the commission takes public positions on situations of intolerable injustice and responds to requests for help in cases of violence or abuse of power.

CRS Brazil and Commissão Brasileira de Justiça e Paz continue to cooperate on projects promoting a culture of peace and working against electoral corruption in Brazil.

Repórter Brasil

Founded in 2001, the influential Repórter Brasil website promotes debate and action on various injustices in Brazilian society, including flagrant disrespect for human rights and degrading social conditions. Repórter Brasil speaks for the poor and the marginalized, supporting their economic, political and social representation in Brazilian life. Repórter Brasil is engaged in social journalism, education and communication, and the struggle to eliminate slave labor.

Repórter Brasil cooperates with CRS Brazil on the U.S. Department of Labor–funded Trails of Liberty project, aimed at stamping out the practice of slave labor.