At the end of November 2025, a MAP delegation traveled to Brazil as part of a mission to monitor and evaluate projects carried out in partnership with Casa do Menor, an organization that MAP has supported for over thirty years. The delegation was composed of Ms. Pilar Klemm, Vice President of MAP and administrator in charge of Brazil, Mr. Nicolas Ryter, Program Coordinator, and two long-time volunteers with the association. The main objectives of this mission were to measure the impact of the actions implemented, strengthen dialogue with local teams, and consolidate a long-standing partnership based on trust and complementarity.

Casa do Menor (CDM) was founded in 1986 by Father Renato Chiera, with the aim of helping the most vulnerable children and young people in Nova Iguaçu, a conurbation of more than 12 million inhabitants located in the vast suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. This region is marked by profound social inequalities, high unemployment, organized crime and trafficking, as well as daily violence that particularly affects children and adolescents. For nearly 40 years, Casa do Menor has been working to offer these young people concrete alternatives to life on the streets through education, vocational training, psychosocial support, and socio-economic integration.

The mission began with a symbolic highlight: the official inauguration of the Irma Celina Community Center, which was completely renovated and refurbished thanks to MAP’s support. The event was attended by beneficiaries, educational teams, local partners, and municipal authorities. The reopening of this center marks a new impetus in the daily care of some 120 children and young people, while offering an open space to the surrounding community, which lives in extremely precarious conditions and under the constant threat of armed gangs. The center is now a safe place conducive to learning, socialization, and personal development.

During the mission, the delegation members also visited various “Casas,” which are facilities that welcome and support young people, in order to evaluate the educational, social, and professional activities underway. These visits provided an opportunity to speak directly with the teams in the field, educators, and young beneficiaries, and to appreciate the quality of the work carried out on a daily basis. The delegation also met with several local entrepreneurs supported by the youth entrepreneurship program backed by MAP. Among them, several young people have already successfully launched their own micro-enterprises, providing concrete evidence of the program’s positive impact in terms of economic empowerment and sustainable integration.

Finally, the mission concluded with an in-depth working meeting with Father Renato and the management team at Casa do Menor. This meeting provided an opportunity to review the results achieved, identify remaining challenges, and jointly define strategic directions for continuing and strengthening the partnership.