Entrants's Name: Patrícia Chalaça

Country: Brazil

Field: Housing

Innovation - idea: By remodeling orphanages and other childcare institutions, we intend to provide a better quality of life to abandoned children.

We developed a "social franchise" system whereas volunteers may apply techniques for remodeling institutions more independently and efficiently, thus increasing exponentially the number of institutions that can be aided.

Collaborations are based on product donation.www.projetocasadacrianca.com.br

Innovation - why it is pioneering: The "social franchise" system enables the multiplication of initiatives in the national territory and ensures quality control and efficiency.

Because it works through product donation and by mobilizing society rather than by money collection.

In every city, the remodelings serve as initiative models to local politicians, influencing public policy.

Strategy - how it achieves impact: The first step is selecting a childcare institution that has efficient administration, is well-established and in need of better physical space.

The second step is lobbying with local companies for the donations of products (ceramics, woodwork, electrical material, etc) and lobbying at construction companies for the donation of workers during the first phase of the remodel.

The third step (after the basic structure has been remodelled or built) is to bring in the arquitects who will redecorate the different rooms and spaces.

Besides working with orphanages, childcare units, etc. we also work with the Instituto Ronald McDonald, the brazilian institution modelled after the Ronald McDonald House Charities, which identifies which hospitals need a more healthy environment for children undergoing chemotherapy and their families. There is a particular concern with filling in geographic gaps between families who live in the countryside and need to be in the city for treatment.

Strategy - growth plans: The social franchise idea intends to enable the efficient and secure replication of the methods employed by all the people linked to the Projeto CASA DA CRIANÇA who wish to coordinate similar initiatives in their cities.

Through the volunteering of advertising agencies (in producing and executing ads about the Projeto) and the help of mass media vehicles we have been able to disseminate the Projeto CASA DA CRIANÇA and its partners, sponsors, and companies that contribute donating products throughout the national territory.

As a consequence more and more people have seeked the opportunity to aid institutions in their hometown and gain recognition as well for their professional abilities.

Furthermore we are seeking sponsorship for a maintenance program called Cia dos Anjos. This program would act in the training and maintaining of the institutions where the Projeto CASA DA CRIANÇA has acted and that are not maintained by the government and need administrative resources.

Impact to date: In seven years of activity, over 10,000 children have benefitted by the Projeto CASA DA CRIANÇA;

Over 20,000 private companies have donated products;

Over 700 construction companies have donated products, labor and time;

Over 2,000 arquitects and interior designers have donated their time and dedication.

Political policies have been influenced and motivated to at the very least review their allocations for the caring of the children and adolescents in their communities.

More than 100 volunteers have joined the board of coordinators of the different socail franchises all over the country.

Future impact: More and more construction companies, arquitects and business in this field have been realizing how small contributiuons of time or products may deeply affect the lives of children who have been abandoned or whose families lack the resuorces to provide them with quality of life.

The number of people who wish to beciome involved has increased and we believe will continue increasing exponentially from now on.

Ten years from now, the children that lived in the orphanages or got treated in the hosiptals aided by the Projeto CASA DA CRIANÇA will be happier and more motivated adults, will have had more opportunites to grow and develop as individuals and hopefully will realized that they too can create change.

Sustainability - resource base: Our head office is comprised of 12 people who are paid a salary from our main sponsors: Cimento Nassau and Instituto Ronald McDonald.

The social franchises are coordinated by volunteers from the location (arquitects, engineers, businessmen, etc).

The remodellings are effected entirely through the donation of products and labor by the construction companies, construction material companies, arquitects, etc.

Different activities for capturing resources may be carried out in the different cities, and must be approved by the head office.

Strategic partnerships are established with local politicians to ensure their support of the institutions after the remodelling.

Major challenge for the field: Our major challenge is ensuring the maintenance of the homes, orphanages and hospitals after the remodelling. We are currently looking to establish partnerships with programs that could help us enforce the CIA DOS ANJOS programs which would aid in the training of the staff of these institutions, the maintanance of the physical space and the general administration of the institution.

Contact Information:

Name: Patrícia Chalaça
Mailing address: Rua Dr. Raul Lafayette 191/1401 Recife, PE Brasil 51021-220
Country: Brazil
Email: patricia@projetocasadacrianca.com.br
Tel: 55 - 81 - 3467 - 9968
Website: www.projetocasadacrianca.com.br

Bio: Architect who worked in the field util became Ashoka Fellow and was able to dedicate myself fully to the Projeto CASA DA CRIANÇA.