“Alegria de Rua” is an ecumenical institution of primary assistance and social service to homeless people. Active since 2001 in São Paulo, Brazil, this non-profit organization has developed an approach whose main characteristic is its volunteers’ happiness. On a weekly basis, volunteers visit the homeless, are gradually taken into their confidence and friendships are established – through this process they tend to collaborate with their own recovery. Finally, under the guidance of “Alegria de Rua”, the homeless are taken to other institutional partners which can provide them shelter and further recovery – many of them need this assistance as they are addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs. Then, the next step is taken: to reintegrate the homeless into his/her family and ultimately into society.
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