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"I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me" (Mt. 18, 3-5)

Who are we?

The CDCA (Child and Adolescent's Defence Centre), founded in 1992 by a group of people worried by the situation of children and adolescents living and/or working in the streets of Barreiras, has always worked reliably, conquering respect and acknowledgement among citizens and authorities.
Its field of action ranges from defence of rights (acting through and inside the Councils of Children and Adolescents' Rights, the Health Council, the Security Council, the Social Assistance Council, the School Council), to defence activities carried out directly with children and adolescents.
At present it is cooperating with Barreiras Town Council, the energy enterprise COELBA (through an agreement called "Learning to work"), Bahia University, the 4º Engeneering and Constructions Battalion, Fazenda Agronol (fruit donations), Caritas of Barreiras and the São Francisco faculty in Barreiras.
It is the only Defence Centre acting in this area of Bahia; keeping in mind that just two towns in the entire region have the Children and Adolescents' Rights Council (CMDCA) and the Guardianship Council (CT), it has gained a remarkable relevance inside the region.
Considering as one of our main objectives the stimulation of children and adolescents' involvement, we try to reactivate self-respect in each one of them. Our mission is to relentlessly seek the social inclusion of children and adolescents victims of social risks.

Where do we work?

All projects managed by the CDCA in Barreiras town (west area of Bahia) and nearby areas are distributed as follows:

• Work Education: Fabinho and Marcone Workshop with a maximum of 45 adolescents aged 16 to 18; Agreement with Barreiras Town Council for 25 adolescents and Agreement with COELBA for 03 adolescents;
• Educational Community Centers: Cata-Vento Projects, involving 360 children and adolescents;
• Assisted Freedom: up to 20 adolescents;
• Reception Houses: 03 houses - of which 02 "Lares" Houses (one for boys, the other for girls, capacity for 12 people each) and 01 Recuperation House (Fazenda Nadia, out of town, capacity for 15 boys);
• Boys and Girls in Urban Social Risk Situation: street education - 40 children and adolescents;
• Public Politics: participation in 03 Councils (Health, School, Public Security) as Councillor and in 02 Councils (CMDCA/CMAS) as Vice-President;
• Education and entertainment: Digital Culture Circle, more than 750 children, young and adult members.

• 03 Nursery Schools – 306 children.

• 01 Popular Schools – 470 children and adolescents.

Our mission

According to the action principles estabilished by the Pastoral of the Minor, the main objectives of our work are:

To develop social inclusion strategies for children and adolescents who are poor, or in a situation of street life, violence, abuse and sexual exploitation, through pedagogic, social, cultural and professionalizing programs, destined to a complete development of the person.

To contribute to attending quality for adolescents in conflict with the law, through the implementation of the Social and Educational Measures provided for by the Child and Adolescent's Statute (ECA).

To develop potentialities and criticism within families, integrating them in the social, economical, politic and cultural context to make them protagonists of changes.

To contribute to the strengthening of the Forums, awakening and mobilizing organized society, to assure the use of Public Politics in favour of the absolute priority principle for children and adolescents.

Abilities and working experiences

The CDCA is articulated in a network in conjunction with the Catholic Church through the Pastoral of the Minor (line 6 of CNBB), forming social agents to defend the rights of children and adolescents, and those of their families.

It cooperates with state (Town Hall, Town Councellors, Juvenile Court) and non-state entities (ONG, Associations pertaining the same area). In almost 12 years of work it has carried out activities in the following areas:

Education: formation of Pastoral agents and social educators

Family assistance: walking side by side with families and children taking part in the Cata-Ventos or other projects run by CDCA

Social and Educational Protection Measures: formation, participation and net articulation, both on a town and national level: projects involving social and educational measures for the rehabilitation and complete personal development of adolescents in conflict with the law.

Public politics: participation in town Equality Councils, taking part in or helping programs related to social and educational areas.