Brazil
Working in partnership with the Habitat for Humanity NGO
Improving living conditions for several families residing in the Heliópolis favela in São Paulo.
Somfy's Brazilian subsidiary supports the Habitat for Humanity project to:
- prevent illness and serious accidents
- improve inadequate and unsanitary housing conditions
- provide greater comfort for disadvantaged families
São Paulo is a very large city with almost 12 million inhabitants
Many of its residents live in sub-standard housing. The Heliópolis community is located in the south of São Paulo. In fact, it is the largest favela in São Paulo. Between 150,000 and 200,000 people live in this community. Habitat for Humanity is developing this project and identifying families in need, giving them financial aid and technical assistance to create decent living conditions. All households requesting help are first visited, then families are selected on the basis of their vulnerability, their state of health, the precariousness of housing and their socio-economic situation.
While these repairs are basic, they do help families regain the dignity they deserve. These families now have homes in which they are not ashamed to invite friends. A lick of paint, improved ventilation and a new floor all contribute to improving the household’s sanitary situation. These repairs improve the overall health of the family. And it is not just the person who asks for help who benefits but the whole family.
2015
In 2015, twelve families, i.e. around forty people, were helped in a São Paulo favela thanks to assistance from the Somfy Foundation and Somfy's Brazilian subsidiary. 12 houses, i.e. one a month for a year.
Somfy Foundation supports Habitat for Humanity in Sao Paulo. The program involves renovating 22 houses in one of the large favelas in the city
Luciene Soares de Almeida, 49, housewife, married.
- She lives with her husband, José Augusto, her children (Jéssica, aged 23, and Kaique, aged 13) and her grand-daughter, Ana Beatriz, aged 7.
- She has lived in Heliópolisfor 15 years.
- Before her house was renovated, there were many leaks, floods and lots of mould. Every time it rained, the house would get damp.
- Several repairs were carried out on the house: increasing the height of the walls with ceramic blocks, replacing the roof with a new one made from fibre cement, plastering three interior walls, and replacing the wiring, which was removed with the old roof.
« When it rained, it was wetter inside the house than outside. I'm so happy now! The smell of mould that was in the house has gone. In the bedroom, we had to use three buckets to catch water and it would rain on our beds. I would clean the house and place buckets all over. » Luciene Soares de Almeida
49, housewife, married
Maria Lourdes Alves de Oliveira, 54, seller, widow
- Maria lives with her daughter, aged 31, and her grandson, aged 5.
- She has lived in Heliópolis for 20 years.
- This house had poor ventilation on the second floor (laundry area). The window was too small to air the room adequately. And the roof tiles were coming off.
- Several repairs were carried out on the house: plastering all the interior walls inside the laundry, building a brick wall to separate the house from the neighbour's, increasing the height of the existing walls in the laundry room with ceramic blocks, building a new roof for the laundry room with adequate timbering, replacing a small window, and renovating the water system notably in the laundry room.
« Before we had rats and the tiles were so old. All our clothes smelt musty but with the new window we have lots of fresh air now. The house is so much nicer now! I'm so happy! Before, when it was windy or it rained, the tiles would fly off. Now, it's different. I can live in peace! » Maria Lourdes Alves de Oliveira
54, seller, widow
2016
Favela Heliópolis
In 2016, the Somfy Foundation is continuing to work in the Heliópolis favela to help more families improve their living conditions.
This year's objective is to repair eight homes and help eight mothers and their children by giving them access to a healthier home thanks to renovated kitchens and bathrooms.
The aim of "Habitat for Humanity" is to create better social conditions and provide technical assistance, e.g. building a new roof, getting rid of dampness, installing new ventilation, etc. Houses with poor ventilation, dampness and built with sub-standard materials compromise the health of the occupants by causing chronic ongoing respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis as well as diarrhoea and other illnesses caused by unsanitary conditions. Kitchens and bathrooms are renovated to improve poor and unhealthy living conditions and to prevent diseases and serious accidents as well as making the family more comfortable.
SOMFY BRAZIL
"In Brazil we still encounter high social disparity despite public efforts to decrease this gap. In this scenario, the private sector is able to play a key role by funding actions that improve the quality of life of those who need it most. Since Somfy cherishes people's well-being by providing a better way of living, it makes total sense to support a programme that improves living conditions. This initiative is firmly in line with our values and the values our employees believe in.Our employees are very proud of this initiative as it reinforces our values."
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BRAZIL
"This Somfy Foundation support is very important to Habitat for Humanity Brazil, since one of our requirements when selecting families prioritizes offering support to women in need who are the heads of their households. This Somfy initiative gives these families the opportunity to build shelter, strength, stability and self-reliance. Habitat Brazil team is very grateful with this chance to give the opportunity for a better future for eight more families!"
Latin America CEO
Executive Director