WHO WE ARE

Compassiva is a social organisation that serves children, young people, women and refugees living in situations of vulnerability in the city of São Paulo. We are located in the centre of the city, strategically placed to serve our target public and for easy access for any person interested. We offer various courses and sociocultural activities, involving sports, arts and culture.

 

COMPASSION THAT TRANSFORMS

We believe that effective social action shouldn’t be limited to merely impersonal transactional exchanges. Development that goes beyond the superficial is crucial – building bridges, healthy relationships and brotherly links which promote a deep understanding and awareness of the reality and context of those involved.

The reality of the public served is complex and covers a diverse set of problems. From our perspective, there are various parallel and interrelated issues in the same reality.

We believe that it is only with this understanding as a starting point that it is possible to create opportunities for effective transformation. We not only offer efficient services, but also a healthy relationship. We believe this is transformative because through this relationship we intentionally seek to restore and strengthen dignity, human values, hopes and dreams. Once these elements are established, they are a foundation and driving force for overcoming various obstacles and challenges, which previously seemed too difficult. This is how transformation takes place – and is not restricted to those served alone but extends to all those involved.

 

WHY THE NAME ‘COMPASSIVA’?
COMPASSIVA means COMPASSIONATE in Portuguese. COMPASSION is an awareness and understanding that compels us to act and thereby trigger effective transformation. We want to be agents of that compassion, and for that reason we are COMPASSIVA.

 

OUR MISSION
Compassiva’s mission is to create opportunities for transforming the lives of people in vulnerabie situations.

 

OUR VISION
Compassiva’s vision is to demonstrate God’s compassion for children, young people, women and refugees in vulnerable situations.

 

OUR VALUES
· Appropriate Relationships: Build humane relationships and bridges to unite people and to join forces.

· Service: Help and serve our neighbour in a practical way.

· Integrity: Be an example and act with transparency and respect in all relationships.

 

HISTORY
Compassiva started in 1998, together with Projeto 242 (a church), through social action serving children living on the streets, drug users, transvestites and families in the local community. Since the beginning, many activities and socioeducational activities and projects involving sports, culture and arts have been developed. Action has also been taken to meet the most basic needs, offer guidance through personal problems, walk alongside families and facilitate reinsertion into the community. The teams worked in the centre of São Paulo, mainly in the neighbourhoods of Glicério, Luz and República, Vale do Anhangabaú, the area known as ‘Crackland’, and the main square in the neighbourhood of Sé.

 

In 2005, the term ‘Compassiva’ was coined, but it only became the initiative’s official name in 2010. A few years later, in 2014, the Compassiva Association was registered as a legal entity, seeking the expansion and strengthening of the work through a process of structuring, professionalisation and officialization of the work taking place and of existing partnerships.