Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world – both geographically and in terms of population.  It is truly massive, sharing borders with every other country in South America except for Ecuador and Chile. The Amazon rain forest – recognized for having the greatest biological diversity on the planet – sprawls over the country’s northern half, with rugged mountains to the south. Despite its wealth of natural resources and beauty, Brazil suffers from staggering poverty, rising inflation, unemployment, and lack of social development. Curitiba, a sprawling city just south of Sao Paulo, is no exception.

The plight of the children living in Curitiba’s slum neighborhoods inspired ACRIDAS (Christian Association of Social Assistance), a non-profit organization of business and civic leaders, to take action. They established several orphanages to assist these deserving young ones, including Casas Lares–ACRIDAS. Many children are placed in Casas Lares–ACRIDAS by court order, to protect them from the threats of abuse, drugs, violence, and malnutrition that they faced.  Casas Lares–ACRIDAS serves as a safe haven, offering underprivileged and vulnerable children the opportunity to live in a safe, home environment, and to rise above the difficult social and economic circumstances from which they come.