Empower Black Women and their families

Dear Donor,

As we reach the end of 2025, we reflect with deep gratitude on the significant journey we have undertaken together. At Instituto Dara, we could not be more thankful for the impact your generosity has made possible.

Thanks to your support, we continue ensuring that Black women — especially those who are heads of their households — have access to the opportunities, rights and social protection they deserve. This work is only possible through our integrated care model, which includes direct support from our multidisciplinary team (doctors, social workers, educators, psychologists and others), as well as a diverse set of training and income-generation initiatives.

Throughout 2025, our programs expanded significantly, strengthening both professional development and cultural expression. We offered workshops in areas such as crafts, entrepreneurship, and artistic expression — providing women not only with new skills, but also with safe and welcoming spaces for collective empowerment and increased self-esteem.

A Special Highlight: the “Women Who Create” Festival

As the closing event of the Dara’s Black Culture Project, we proudly held the Women Who Create Festival from November 17 to 19 at our headquarters in Botafogo. More than 900 people attended during the three days of activities.

The free program celebrated art, culture and women’s entrepreneurship, featuring:

• exhibitions and a marketplace of women entrepreneurs;

• hands-on workshops and children’s activities;

• cultural performances — including maracatu and jongo;

• lectures on creative economy, digital marketing, mental health, ESG and gender diversity.

The festival honored the creativity, ancestry and strength of the women who journeyed with us throughout the year. It was a space of learning, recognition and collective empowerment — made possible thanks to donors like you.

National Recognition: Instituto Dara among Brazil’s Top 100 NGOs

In 2025, we were honored to be recognized by the Best NGOs of Brazil Award, the most important distinction in the civil society sector. The award celebrates organizations working in poverty reduction, health promotion, education, housing and citizenship — precisely the areas addressed by our Dara Method (PAF).

“Receiving this recognition fills us with pride! It represents every professional who works at Dara, every family we serve, and every partner who walks with us on this journey. For 34 years, we have proven — with action and technical excellence — that when care is truly integrated, combining health, education, housing, income and citizenship, poverty is no longer destiny,” celebrates Sabrina Porcher, our Executive Director.

Dara Joins the Strategic Committee of the National Care Plan (PNaC)

Another important milestone this year was Instituto Dara’s selection to join the Strategic Committee of the National Care Plan (PNaC) for the 2025–2028 term — known as Brazil That Cares. The PNaC recognizes care as a fundamental right and coordinates public policies to promote protection and autonomy for children, older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers.

“It is an honor for Instituto Dara to be among those selected. For 34 years, we have worked to promote health and human development, grounded in the understanding that child care and support for caregiving families are essential conditions to break intergenerational cycles of poverty,” highlights Sabrina Porcher.

Dara will represent organizations working with children, adolescents and early childhood, alongside experts, civil society entities and representatives from nearly 20 ministries. Our participation in the PNaC reinforces our commitment to public policies that expand rights and strengthen families.

Together, we continue building a Brazil that cares.

Thank you, once again, for walking beside us.
Your support transforms lives every single day.

We look forward to continuing this mission together in 2026!

With gratitude,
Instituto Dara

Dear Donor,

We’ve reached the halfway point of 2025, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the impact we’ve been able to generate thanks to your support!

At the Dara Institute, every step we take is guided by a clear purpose: to ensure that women and families in vulnerable situations have access to the opportunities and rights they deserve. And so far, we’ve made significant progress in this direction.

Here’s a glimpse of what your generosity has helped make possible:

With the goal of strengthening the cultural identity of Black women, the Daras Black Culture Project offered, over the course of ten months, 32 cultural and educational sessions to 45 Black and mixed-race women from families supported by Dara.

The meetings aimed to encourage reflection on the social, political, historical, and cultural dynamics that shape the Black community in Brazil, while also fostering a reframing of personal narratives, relationships, and future perspectives.

Participants deepened their knowledge of traditional cultural expressions such as jongo, coco, maracatu, and samba de roda.These experiences not only helped preserve and celebrate Afro-Brazilian culture but also created a welcoming space for exchange, learning, and collective identity building.

The group also visited two significant cultural sites — the Casa de Rui Barbosa Museum and the Sacopã Quilombo — to explore the history and key figures behind the formation of Black Brazilian culture.

Our New Unit in Vila Geny, Itaguaí (RJ)

We’re also thrilled to share that our new center in Vila Geny, Itaguaí (Rio de Janeiro), has already welcomed over 200 families. Of these, 72.5% are led by women — reinforcing our commitment to promoting female empowerment and autonomy.

Crochet as a Path to Autonomy at the Dara Institute

We promote social inclusion through initiatives that restore dignity and autonomy for families. One such initiative is our crochet course, designed for women in vulnerable contexts.

More than just teaching a technique, crochet has become a powerful tool for healing, income generation, and self-esteem. In a safe and welcoming environment, participants develop manual skills, create support networks, and rediscover their self-worth.

Each stitch is a step toward transformation — aligned with the Dara Institute’s mission to build a more just and humane world for all. Attached is a photo from this special journey!

Crochet Course Participants

Behind Every Number, a Real Story of Change:

"I’ve been battling depression for a while and barely had the will to leave the house. The course helped me open up, talk to other women who are also facing challenges — and I made real friends there. On top of that, I learned a new skill that could become a source of income."
— Sônia, participant in the crochet course

Looking Ahead

As we move into the second half of the year, we’re even more motivated and committed to expanding these actions. Soon, we’ll be hosting an exhibition showcasing the handmade pieces produced by the women who took part in our workshops — and we can’t wait to share it all with you.

Thank you, once again, for walking this journey with us.
Your support changes lives every single day.

With gratitude,
The Dara Team

Links:

• Dara with full force in incentivized projects
• "Daras Cultura Negra" exhibition highlights