Vera Cordeira and child at Rio de Janeiro's Hospital da Lagoa Copyright Janet Jarman

Transcript of Vera's words:   "In April 1991, I started writing a project (proposal), and I showed this project to the head of the social workers at the hospital. (He said,) 'You are writing – it's a government program, (but) you don't belong to the government. You are writing a project (proposal) that you will build houses and you will give food – with what money? You are completely mad! I think you are completely mad.'

"Some friends of mine, they said, 'Go away, it's impossible to handle!' They are general practitioners. They worked with me during (the past) ten years, and they are very good physicians, but they said, 'Vera, it's impossible. It's too much sadness, illness, poverty, children, mothers alone – you cannot handle this problem.'

"And (on) this Sunday, as I wrote the project – when I finished writing – I think to myself, 'Am I mad – completely mad? I have everything – a husband, two beautiful children. I have no need for money. I have my job. What am I doing?'"

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