The group Fraternidade sem Fronteiras (Fraternity Without Borders) was created with the aim of helping other people, taking the material and spiritual bread beyond the borders of Brazil. It helps children, young people and adults live a more dignified life.

It was founded in the Brazilian city of Campo Grande, in the state of Mato Grosso, in 2009, where it is based. It keeps 27 shelters in Mozambique and others in Madagascar, hosting about 12,000 children, 9,000 of them, orphans. Their work is based on volunteers in Brazil and many other countries who choose to sponsor children. Those who benefit from the assistance of FSF, a non-governmental organisation, are fed daily, get school material, basic hygiene education and access to cultural activities. Also, they get four annual group visits by volunteers, who include doctors, dentists, educators, engineers, psychologists and nurses.

Fraternity Without Borders also has activities in Senegal and in the North and Northeast of Brazil, aimed specifically at children suffering from microcephaly.

The creator of this project, Wagner Moura, speaks in this interview about organisation’s various projects:

Fraternity Without Brothers has carried out an important project in Mozambique and expanded its activities to other African countries, such as Madagascar and Senegal. How were those countries chosen and what is done in order to improve the lives of people there?

The humanitarian organisation Fraternity Without Borders operates in some of the poorest countries in the world, with hope and a deep wish to help put an end to hunger and build a world of peace. When I was a young child, I could see in my mind images of Africa. I had vivid dreams about children. Our first projects were aimed at feeding thousands of children, including many orphans. The project expanded and FSF has now 27 shelters in Mozambique, two in Madagascar and one in Roraima. They also have access to baths and showers, information about hygiene, health, education and cultural and sustainability projects.

FSF also has begun working with the families of children with microcephaly. Where is this shelter located and what activities and services does it provide?

It is in the northeastern Brazilian state of Paraíba, where Fraternity Without Borders embraced the cause that came from the heart and the dedication of Doctor Adriana Melo. The children with microcephaly receive the treatment they need at the Health Centre, part of the Research Institute Professor João Amorim Neto (IPESQ). A multidisciplinary team with physiotherapists, psychologists and doctors assist the children, offering families an opportunity to receive appropriate treatment.  

Tell us a bit more about the latest project, a shelter for refugees from Venezuela in the city of Boa Vista, the capital of the Brazilian state of Roraima.

In Roraima I met migrants and also good-hearted people willing to help. We gathered a team of volunteers and supporters and launched the project, “Brazil, a welcoming heart.” We built the first such shelter in Brazil and we are assisting 100 families there. It has family dormitories, a canteen, a school and collective bathrooms. We are working on partnerships to offer training courses, including teaching the migrants the Portuguese language. The goals is to give the families autonomy so that they can, in a short time, be able to support themselves and host other people in need. Until they can support themselves, they will remain in the shelter getting three meals per day, feeding their hearts also with the feeling of fraternity.

Do you have new projects to be launched?

After our last visit to Madagascar, not long ago, a new dream of fraternity emerged in the face of so much poverty: the city of Fraternity. The idea is to have a location with clean water, school, playground, allotments, arts and crafts workshops, food and dignity. We have already received a donation of a plot of land of 45,000 square metres. Each house, built with local material, will cost about $1,000. Most of the land will designated to the sustainable cultivation of food and all residents will take part in some sort of work activity, becoming productive and conquering their self-esteem.  

How can people help the Fraternity Without Borders projects?

There are many activities to help FSF, events, meetings and we also take part in business meetings to help disseminate our projects. Those who want to help in person can join us in the organised group visits, four times a year. To take part you need to sponsor one of our projects.