By Instituto Melo Cordeiro Team | Project
Dear partners and supporters,
April was a month of meaningful connections, creative learning, and concrete impact in the lives of the children and adolescents served by Instituto Melo Cordeiro (IMC). We remain committed to sharing each step of our journey with transparency, because your support is what makes this work possible, and you deserve to know exactly how far it reaches.
This report covers April 2026 and includes information on workshop activities, attendance, community engagement, and the progress of our cultural arts program in Ferraz de Vasconcelos, São Paulo.
01 | Easter Celebration Campaign
In April, in partnership with Cacau Show and with the engagement of Grupo Melo Cordeiro (GMC) employees, IMC held a special gift-giving initiative for participants in our programs.
More than 400 Easter eggs were delivered directly to enrolled children and adolescents. The initiative reached more than 200 young people and was made possible by 2 corporate partners who contributed resources and volunteer support.
Much more than chocolate, the event created something longer lasting: a moment of joy, inclusion, and belonging for children who, in many cases, were experiencing a celebration like this for the first time. This is the IMC Method in practice: using everyday moments as tools for emotional development, self-esteem, and community connection.
02 | Active Programs: April 2026 Overview
IMC currently operates three community programs for children and adolescents living in situations of social vulnerability in Ferraz de Vasconcelos, in the Alto Tietê region of São Paulo.
Project S.E.R. — Arts, Music, and Theater
Instituto Melo Cordeiro’s Project S.E.R. (Saberes Educativos em Rede) serves children and young people ages 7 to 14 during after-school hours, free of charge. It offers structured workshops in Body Expression and Dance, Music/Theater, Educational Games, Storytelling, Socioenvironmental Education, and Communication and Expression.
IMC has launched a continuous 14-year support strategy, guiding children and young people from ages 7 to 21. This expands our reach beyond the original Project S.E.R. and reflects our commitment to accompanying participants through higher education.
April 2026 Indicators — Project S.E.R.
Participants served : 84
Workshop attendance : 83.42%
Class hours delivered : 152 hours
The program’s attendance goal is 75%. In April, Project S.E.R. exceeded this target by a wide margin, demonstrating strong community trust and participant engagement. For every R$1.00 invested in this program, the Social Return on Investment (SROI) is R$1.32, meaning that each real invested generates more than one real in measurable social value.
Pequenos Falcões — Sports and Physical Development
The Pequenos Falcões program uses sports as a vehicle for developing discipline, teamwork, and self-confidence. It serves children through structured physical activity, literacy, music, theater, and socioemotional support.
April 2026 Indicators — Pequenos Falcões
Participants served : 26
Attendance : 70.64%
Class hours delivered : 70 hours
Novos Rumos — Preparation for the Professional World
The Novos Rumos program is in its final pre-launch stage, with 81 participants enrolled and ready to begin activities. Designed for adolescents, the program prepares them with practical skills for professional life and citizenship. It represents IMC’s commitment to long-term impact by supporting young people through critical transitions in their development.
03 | Workshops Held in April
Across all active programs, IMC held 29 workshops totaling 222 class hours in April. These workshops are part of a carefully designed curriculum centered on artistic expression, emotional literacy, and socioenvironmental awareness:
Each workshop is led by trained educators and guided by the IMC Method (Happiness), an approach to whole-child development that integrates cognitive, emotional, and social learning. The sessions are designed not only to teach skills, but also to build meaningful bonds among participants, educators, and families.
04 | Meeting with Families and Guardians
On April 25, IMC held a structured meeting with the families and legal guardians of enrolled participants. Family engagement is not an add-on to our programs; it is a fundamental pillar of the IMC Method.
The meeting created a space for open dialogue: families shared observations from daily life at home, educators presented each child’s progress and challenges, and together they defined next steps in each participant’s development journey. This participatory approach ensures that impact goes beyond the workshop room and reaches the family environment.
We believe that sustainable child development is only possible when families are informed, respected, and supported as partners in the process.
05 | Cultural Fundraising — Project S.E.R.
Project S.E.R. Cultural is made possible through Brazil’s main federal cultural incentive mechanism, the Rouanet Law, which allows companies and individuals to allocate part of their income tax due to approved cultural projects at no additional cost to the donor. This model gives IMC the sustainability needed to offer a high-quality arts and culture program to young people living in vulnerable conditions.
Although this mechanism is available only to Brazilian taxpayers, it is part of a broader support ecosystem that works alongside international contributions. The combination of local institutional funding and global supporter engagement is precisely what enables IMC to operate with scale and financial stability.
In the coming months, you will hear a lot more about our cultural deliverables: the Recital Multicor performances, which will include three presentations in São Paulo, Brazil, as well as music and theater training activities with our children and adolescents. Stay tuned!
06 | Digital Presence and Community Reach
Transparency and storytelling are central to our organizational culture. In April, IMC maintained an active presence on digital platforms to document and share our work with supporters, families, and the broader social sector:
Media Coverage and Publications — Instituto Melo Cordeiro
IMC was featured in regional media in the Alto Tietê region in May 2026 through coverage of the event “Coração de Mãe, Força de Mulher,” held at the headquarters of the Pequenos Falcões Project in Favela dos Sonhos, Ferraz de Vasconcelos, São Paulo, Brazil.
The initiative, which delivered flowers to mothers in the territory, was covered by three regional outlets: Alto Tietê On, JC Arujá, and Alto Tietê em Foco, expanding the reach of IMC’s message to different audiences.
The articles highlighted the presence of Ferraz de Vasconcelos athlete Haialas Souza, known as Esquivinha, a member of the Brazilian National Team, who shared with the mothers a message of resilience and strength, connecting the philosophy of sports to the reality of the community.
The outlets also emphasized the social context of the territory: Favela dos Sonhos is home to approximately 225 families with an average income 45% below the poverty line, and 74% of unemployed women in the community are Black and Brown. This is a reality that IMC chooses to illuminate by transforming data into care and presence.
This media coverage reinforces the public recognition of the Institute’s work and its growing relevance as a third-sector reference in the Alto Tietê region.
These numbers reflect a growing community of people who believe in what IMC does. Every view, share, and interaction is a small act of solidarity that amplifies the voices of the children we serve.
Thank You
The impact described in this report would not exist without your trust and generosity. Every workshop hour delivered, every child who feels seen and valued in our programs, and every family that leaves a meeting feeling supported are results made real by your support.
At Instituto Melo Cordeiro, we do not simply manage programs. We build futures, one child, one family, and one community at a time. It is an honor to have you as partners on this journey.
Instituto Melo Cordeiro Team
Ferraz de Vasconcelos, São Paulo, Brazil | April 2026
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