CRS History in Brazil

Catholic Relief Services Brazil opened our first office in the city of Recife in 1993 to manage an emergency response to a severe drought that struck the country’s northeastern region. At the time, the agency worked with the World Food Program, local nonprofits and local governments to help families affected by the drought.

Although the central pillar of our work continues to be the creation of viable and sustainable livelihoods for the people of northeast Brazil's semiarid region, CRS Brazil has expanded our reach countrywide. The office supports Church and non-Church partners in their fight against the injustices and the unacceptable living conditions so many Brazilians face. CRS Brazil has joined our partners to fight slave labor, to promote compassionate treatment of and integrated care for people living with HIV, and to harness the power of the Church to promote a culture of justice.

CRS Brazil has in the past looked predominantly at the special social conditions and needs of the northeast region. However — as evidenced by our current anti-trafficking work, our nationwide collaboration with the Pastoral for Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS, and our responses for short-term assistance to flood emergencies in Acre and Rio de Janeiro states — CRS Brazil remains open to the possibility of working with motivated partners throughout Brazil who share CRS' strategy and vision.