WHO
WE ARE
The CAJU Project emerged from a heart that did not disregard the social demands around it.
In 2017, the founder and director of the Presbyterian Educational Institution (IPE), Michelly Marcondes, began to realize her desire to develop schools with a social impact in underprivileged areas. Her main goal is to transform the harsh reality of children, adolescents and their families in Brazil and other parts of the world through education.
Following the social identity of the Presbyterian Educational Institution, the CAJU Project was born.
The project activities finally took shape in September 2020. The chosen location: the Santa Rita Community, in the municipality of Osasco.
Compassionate about the situation of the children in the community located in the area of a cemetery in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the creator Michelly understood that this would be the ideal moment to awaken and execute the project that had been burning in her heart for years.
Supported by an indispensable group of volunteers, CAJU has teaching professionals who teach literacy and tutoring classes, in addition to the regular school activities of children and adolescents, health professionals and professionals from the most diverse areas of activity to promote comprehensive assistance.
In fulfillment of the purpose of meeting the basic needs of children and young people in the community, the project also provides meals on activity days.
THE NAME
The name of the CAJU Project came from an experience that Michelly had with God.
With his heart restless and moved by the social needs around him, in particular, regarding children around the world, a Word leapt into his heart: Isaiah 61: 1-3.
Then, when studying the biblical text, Michelly understood the divine direction and, thus, named the dream that already existed in her heart “caju”, an acronym for “Carvalhos de Justiça”.
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release from darkness to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to give to all who mourn in Zion a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness , the planting of the Lord, that his glory may be displayed.”
Isaiah 61:1-3