A major challenge. This is how we define the two selection processes conducted by Brazil Fund last May and June to choose the projects to be supported through the two annual calls launched at the end of 2015. 35 initiatives were selected and will receive, in total, more than R$1 million.
The selection process was extensive and strict, which is a consolidated brand of the Fund in the nearly ten years of existence. The large number of projects received made the process even more challenging: 1365 proposals were received for the two calls “Fighting institutional violence and discrimination” and “Fighting together against the violence that kills the youth in Brazil”. Criteria such as social impact, multiplying effect, regionality, innovative character, ties to the communities and matching focus with the call were used in selections. Still, the selection work is difficult and needs to bare in mind the priorities of the field. As a result, we support initiatives that cover the main issues related to human rights, in a wide geographical distribution.
The number of projects, coming from all regions, demonstrates the outreach capacity of the Fund. At the same time, it is a sign that the situation of advocacy organizations in the country is worse. The unquestionable transparency of the selection process demonstrates the seriousness of the work, which generates trust among the defenders of human rights.
In addition to the 35 projects, the Fund has supported five other initiatives through a special funding line called Criminal Justice – Pre-trial detention in the Northeast.
Brazil Fund has also taken a stand, in the first half of this year, against the rape culture present in the country, cruelly expressed in a case of collective sexual violence against a teenager in Rio de Janeiro. Counselors and advisers, as well as founding members of the Fund, posted their statements confronting the violation on different social networks.
The support of thousands of people to this action shows that a significant part of society does not accept such violence.
I also take this opportunity to thank those who have been by our side during the time Brazil Fund has been developing its work in the country.
You can check all of our initiatives on our website: www.fundobrasil.org.br
Ana Valeria Araujo – Executive Coordinator
