SOCIO-EDUCATIONAL CENTRE (CENTRO SOCIOEDUCATIVO - CSE)

The purpose of this facility is to offer day shelter to children and teenagers who live in social risk in the streets. Here, we assist each one of them, aiming at their returning to their families and communities. When family re-integration is not possible, we lead them to São Martinho homes or to other partner institutions.

In 2003 and 2004, daily, children and adolescents who live or work in the streets crossed the always-open doors of our house. There, all of them were guaranteed the right to personal hygiene (shower, oral hygiene and changing clothes), medical and psychosocial care, and three daily meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

They were also led to several sociopedagogic activities: carpentry workshop, reading room, toy room, sports, literacy and learning workshops, culture and leisure (theatre, music, etc), beauty space, computer room and a multipurpose room.

In October 2004, CSE started to develop the sociopedagogic care in external activities, while the services done inside the facilities of the project served as a support to the socioeducational work and to emergency situations. Besides that, professionals from CSE and from other projects of the institution elaborated and developed together a new methodological proposal to the centre.

With a team of doctors, dentists, nurses, and a volunteer (nurse), headquartered in the Socio-Educational Centre, São Martinho health section provided care for all of its users.