The renovation project at the Brazilian Regional Espírito Santo Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) headquarters, located in the city of Cariacica in Greater Vitória, has been completed. The renovation project expanded the building from 500 square meters (1600 feet) to just over 800 square meters (2600). On August 26th, ADRA Espirito Santo held its grand re-opening ceremony. The event was attended by the general public, as well as ecclesiastical and denominational authorities.

Regional Espírito Santo is the agency's largest office in Brazil and currently has 970 employees. About 25 projects are coordinated by the Brazilian government in partnership with ADRA. The expansion of the building will serve approximately 50 employees who are part of the administrative team.

The director of the agency in the state, Clairton Oliveira, recalled the challenges of this expansion, which lasted about a year and a half. “We are committed to doing our best so that we have increasing equality in the world; defending and preserving human rights, helping the vulnerable, taking bread to those who do not have it, and helping those who need help, ” he stressed.

The re-opening program began with a ribbon cutting, the unveiling of commemorative plaques and the introduction of Adventist leadership present, including Erton Köhler, President of the Adventist Church for eight countries in South America; Fábio Salles, Director of ADRA Brazil; Hiram Kalbermatter, President of the Adventist Church for the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Espirito Santo; Jacqueline Moraes (PSB), Deputy Governor of Espírito Santo, and Juninho (PPS), Mayor of the City of Cariacica (Espirito Santo).

On behalf of the government in Espírito Santo, the Vice-governor highlighted the role that the entity has played in the community of one of the cities with the lowest per capita income in the state. “To have a Church in this area that is serious and committed to social causes, helping to serve and care for others fills us with joy. ADRA wins, and our city wins, with this work of excellence and commitment to others,” he said.

ADRA, in the State of Espírito Santo, is one of the oldest humanitarian agencies in South America and carries out its activities through collaboration with the municipalities of Greater Vitória. It operates in areas of social assistance dealing with both basic social protection and special social protection of medium and high complexity.

Köhler corroborated the importance of ADRA's work by remembering that solidarity is closely linked to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Transformation story

One of the highlights of the re-opening ceremony was the story of Juliana Silva. An institutional video portrayed the difficulties children in Espírito Santo are faced with. After experiencing a family relationship based on abuse and abandonment, Juliana discovered the ills of a violent world early on in her life. She lived in the homes of many different people until she was 16 years old. At the age of 16, she was received by one of the shelters that are under the tutelage of ADRA Espírito Santo.

“For any child who has the vision of going to a shelter, it makes you cry. I got there crying. Even though I was 16 years old, I arrived at the shelter in tears. Because we have no idea how we are going to be treated,” said Juliana.

However, at the shelter Juliana finally found a home and a family that truly cared for her. But as she neared the age of 18 years old, Juliana and ADRA professionals working with her were concerned about her future since the amount of assistance the state provides is severely limited once children turn 18 years old.

Fortunately, the security Juliana hoped for came from the only home that ever really embraced her. Her ADRA family would now take care of her through a way she couldn’t have imagined - by giving her a career! ADRA Brasil hired Juliana and she is now employed as a social caregiver for one of the institution houses located in Capixaba, Brasil.

Because of ADRA, children, adolescents and the community can have hope that their past does not have to determine their future.

This article was originally published on the South American Division’s Portuguese news site