Social entities linked to Mutirum does works with handicapped people and others, with
almost 3,000 people envolved/month

For the children, an education that respects their integral development



Folklore and culture are some of the works done by Mutirum Partners

Children at Carolina´s Hause

Specially on First World countries, NGO´s developed a net on donations and private associates that helps to finance its work. In Brazil, as on other poorest countries, for many reasons reality is quite different: there isn´t a well-developed donation culture, social needs are bigger than on rich countries and society, in general, is already poorest than on rich countries.

Monte Azul is one of Mutirum partners

Althought that, for most of NGOs all over the world, there´s a common question. NGO´s work usually is done for people that can´t pay for it. Or, is done on causes that only brings expenses, not income. So, how NGO´s can sponsor their work on a planned, stable, professional basis?

Due on this question, it was founded on 1998 in Brazil Mutirum NGO. It has the mission to "generate money for social works". Mutirum is a result of seven social non-profit entities association. These entities has a direct work with almost 3 thousand people/month during last 20 years and has great difficulties on maintain these work.

"For a tree to carry fruits, It needs air, good earth, sun, and water. For a human being to open and unfold itself, It needs nourishment, protection, And an open heart, which gives it love, And a person, who helps it to grow."
Ute Craemer

To achieve its goal, Mutirum has developed the concept of SPE, or Social Participation Enterprise. This concept can be resumed as developing enterprises that specifically deserves a part of its profits for non-profitabel social work. This money could be a compliment for donations and may be a chance for some NGOs to have a regular income to finance its social works.

Mutirum´s trademark "opa!", for products made by NGO´s

Based on this concept, Mutirum first developed a little pedagogical toy distribuition company. Now it´s workingo on a new project focused on building, called "Building for the Future".

One of the toys done with trademark "opa!"

"Building for the Future" project has two basis. First, there´s the idea of build and then sell houses, managing profits for non-profitable social work of Mutirum associates. On the other hand, there´s the special technology that will be used on this houses, that has a strong ecological concept: soil-cement bricks.

The soil-cement brick

First step on project is to produce this soil-cement bricks. Second, to build houses and sell it. Third would be to develop special ecological villages, offering a low-cost and environmental-respectfull options on dwelling in Brazil.

Parallel to these effort on building business, Mutirum aims include to train people from other NGOs on using of this building technology and on entrepreneurship, helping on its own building needs, reducing their expenses and offering a professional qualifying for non-scholarized people on local communities.

With this project, benefits desired are: to offer an ecological and low-cost option for building, with good technical standards; open new jobs; qualify people, specially that ones that are excluded from formal work market, due on their educational gap; reduce costs on buildings for NGOs; and contribute on reducing dwelling deficit in Brazil. And in the end, help NGOs on their social work on communities.

Building with soil-cement bricks has such advantages as the distribution of the weight all over walls, which diminishes fissure risks and higher costs with concrete columns

Mutirum's project intends to show how a company with this goals can be profitable and motivating, and how it can accomplish this healthy economic cycle. Renewing the meaning of profit and inspiring the enterpreneuring talent, it becomes possible to apply resources where it is most urgent today: in developing people and social life.

If you want to know more about this project, or how to support it, please write to Mutirum NGO - Brazil, on mutirum@uol.com.br.

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