CONTEXT

The people of Bebedouro, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, are largely direct descendants of African slaves exploited in past centuries for the colonization of the South American country.
Even today, the descendants of these former slaves live on the margins of society, deprived of access to many services including educational ones.
This condition prevents young people from breaking the spiral of poverty into which they were born, instead fueling a social environment dominated by violence and alcohol and drug abuse.

FRANCISCAN’S PRESENCE

The Friars Minor have been present in Bebedouro since 1947, when a small group of missionaries from Naples decided to dedicate themselves to the protection of this people.
Over time, the Friars Minor have established Educandário S. Antônio.
Born as an orphanage, over time the Educandario began to offer free education to hundreds of children from the humblest strata of the population.

THE PROJECT

Due to the shortage of funds, the Educandario in 2010 had to suspend the provision of higher education and reduce the number of children accommodated in the 4 to 14 year old range.

The Foundation’s commitment is to help the friars restore the educational offerings to the levels achieved in the 1980s, when there were more than 500 children taken in by the Educandario, and thus give hope for the future to an increasing number of families.