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BrazilFoundation held its fifth Project Selection process this year, raising the number of projects financed since the foundation's inception to 110. In the last five years, the foundation has received around 1,000 applications for grants each year, a big difference compared with the 73 proposals submitted in the first selection process in 2002. The number of grants has increased in direct proportion to the funding raised in the US from four projects supported in our first year to 33 projects in 2006. This year, we count with new partners to support project finalists: HSBC, TAM, and Companhia Vale do Rio Doce.

These have been years for learning and accomplishments. Small and medium-sized projects find it very hard to access financing in Brazil, and BrazilFoundation has answered this urgent call. We have managed to discover distant projects in almost forgotten communities on isolated rivers, arid plateaus, and in forest regions; we also helped city folk in shanty towns, who are mired in urban poverty and in dire need of solutions to their problems and new options for their lives.

We learned that while funding is primordial, equally important is the fact that we are there to bring recognition to the work of each person and, when necessary, bring technical support to implement the projects, helping give life and visibility to their organizations by creating new opportunities and improving communities and the individuals who live in them.

In connection with this, we created this year a training and technical support program with the help of funds provided by the Avina Foundation for projects that we financed in previous years; we expect to make this a permanent feature in future programs. We believe that the sharing of work experiences among the social organizations together with detailed information and know-how are the most valuable tools to help these organizations attain their objectives, which are the same as ours: full development and the possibility of life for all with dignity.

We created a Project Bank as a service to individual and corporate donors who seek an active role in social responsibility and who come to us for orientation and project monitoring.

As we review the project proposals received over these past five years, we note a shift in priorities. There have been changes in the profiles of projects in this year's selection. For example, in the early years child education received the greatest number of proposals, today education projects are dominated by professional training, pre-university studies, and environmental education.

In the area of health, projects for the elderly and nutritional guidance are most frequent, while projects for Aids/HIV have practically disappeared. But programs treating under-age pregnancies and sex education are a constant concern.

Citizenship, which includes job and income creation, training for project leaders, and strategies for local sustainable development, among other topics, is our most-requested area now. Included here are programs for and by women, confirming the strong female presence at all social levels in the country, but especially among the poor.

Human rights, always a sensitive area in Brazilian society, has had a number of important projects. Every year we see more compelling projects in response to enormous complexity of this area in a country such as ours.

The area of Culture always sparks a happy note since it involves the preservation of traditions, of our artistic and cultural heritage, popular culture, dance, music, and the arts, all of which contribute importantly to the building of a spiritually healthy society that recognizes and gives value to its cultural identity.

The selection process culminated this year with our visit to the 50 finalist projects. The final decision was made after an analysis of the reports brought back by our analysts. Sheila Nogueira, our program manager, visited the projects located between Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul; Gláucio Gomes traveled from the far north to the middle of the northeast; Verônica Paiva braved Amazonia and Mato Grosso do Sul, and I went to Bahia and other states in the northeast.

These experiences put the spotlight on a Brazil which few know; they are experiences that form the guiding principles of BrazilFoundation as it makes its way forward.

On July 18, we introduced to the public the representatives of the 33 projects selected for support in 2006/2007. They arrived two days in advance from all points of the country to take part in management workshops and to share their work experiences. This practice has proven to be very valuable at the beginning of the monitoring process developed by BrazilFoundation.

The selection ceremony is always a festive and lively event. It is traditional to present a Culture Project and this year the Vidança Dance Company of Ceará brought 20 performers, including little girls and young ladies who are already teachers and boys who played the drums who made a strong impact on the audience. One of the project coordinators was chosen as a representative to give thanks via a samba that the group composed the previous night.

Our award event takes place every year and we invite all of you to come. It is an unforgettable experience!

Susane Worcman
BrazilFoundation's Vice President, Rio de Janeiro