The SUEZ Foundation in Brazil
Solidariedade frança-Brasil (SFB)
Since 1998, the SUEZ Foundation for children in need has lent support to Solidarité France Brésil – Solidariedade França-Brasil (SFB) – created in 1986 by French expatriates and Brazilians who had become concerned by the substandard living conditions of people in Rio de Janeiro’s suburbs. The objective then was to support projects originating from the neediest areas in these communities.
Today, SFB has expanded its action beyond providing assistance for the construction and rehabilitation of public infrastructure, to developing training for people involved in its projects, which focuses on health and above all on the education of children and adolescents.
Over the years, SUEZ Foundation has supported SFB in the completion of four child care facilities: Queimados, Chatuba, Crianças de Cristo and Joias de Cristo and two community centers for childhood development: Arminda Marquès and Sao Vicente de Paula, both located in the very poor areas of Nova Iguaçu, in the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Today, more than 3,000 children benefit from the work of SFB.
Associaçao de Apoio à Criança com HIV – Casa Vhida
Since 2002, the SUEZ Foundation also supports an association providing help for HIV infected children, Assoçiao de Apoio à Criança com HIV. The association was created at the end of 1999 at the initiative of a group of health care professionals who cared for children with AIDS at the Institute of Tropical Medicine of Amazonia.
Located at Manaus, the association’s vocation is to assist children under 12, abandoned or not, who are HIV positive, and to offer them medical treatment, social and psychological support, and diverse educational activities (schooling, arts & craft workshops, physical education, etc.). The association also supports the brothers and sisters of afflicted children.
Thanks to SUEZ Foundation support, in 2004 the association was able to build a new “home” – Casa Vhida – which today can lodge 50 children and offer them much better living conditions than the previous facilities, made available by the Municipality of Manaus, which had become too small.
All together, more than 250 children are in its care. Many are orphans who are adopted by the association.
