Ana Paula Santana, 28, was one of the beneficiaries in this stage of the campaign.
Diaconia, one of the NGOs working in partnership with the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger Brazil, distributed food vouchers to families in the north-eastern states of Pernambuco and Paraiba last week. The distribution is part of the Compra Solidária campaign, led by Carrefour Brasil. The WFP Centre of Excellence has been coordinating the work of partner NGOs, ensuring the distribution of food vouchers to vulnerable families in areas that were most affected by Covid-19 in Brazil. Each card is worth R$ 100 and families can use it at any store to buy essential items. Deliveries made by Diaconia will benefit, in this phase of the campaign, 1,400 families from the metropolitan areas of Recife (Pernambuco), Fortaleza (Ceará) and João Pessoa (Paraíba).
Housewife Ana Paula Santana, 28, is a resident of the Paulo VI community in Santa Rita, in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa and was one of the beneficiaries in this stage of the campaign. Ana Paula lives with her husband and two kids and has been managing the emergency aid received by the Federal Government together with her husband in order to survive. “It is what is allowing us to put food on the table and pay some bills. In almost six months of this pandemic, this is the first donation we have received”, she said.
Olipson Gomes, 34, is a pastry chef and, with the arrival of the pandemic, he was left without regular work. He lives in Recife and for two months he has been taking up daily shifts at some bakeries, receiving an average of R$ 80 reais per shift, but they do not always come up. “We are living in a very difficult time. Before the pandemic, I worked at a company for seven months. I was let go and I was not entitled to unemployment insurance. We are living with the help of donations as this one. The card will be used to buy food and snacks for my children”, he said.
The situation is also difficult for housewife Katia Rutter, 59, who lives with her husband and three grandchildren. Before the pandemic, she informal jobs. Her husband also has no permanent job and lives on informal work. “With the isolation, I was unable to perform cleaning and laundry services for some customers. We have suffered from a lack of resources to support ourselves. That card arrived in a good time”.
Olipson Gomes, 34, was left without regular work as a result of the pandemic.
About Compra Solidária
The Compra Solidária campaign, by Carrefour Brasil, raised more than R$ 1.6 million reais through donations from individuals and companies, which was later doubled by Carrefour’s contribution. Depending on the location and logistical conditions, the cards are being delivered directly to the families living in the areas covered by the NGOs. In the case of more isolated communities, families are receiving food baskets.
In the second phase of the campaign, which started in September, 9,938 cards are being distributed by the four WFP partner organizations: Ação da Cidadania, Caritas, Diaconia and the Fundação Amazônia Sustentável (FAS). The cards will benefit approximately 44,000 people in 12 states and the Federal District. In the first phase, NGOs distributed 6,000 cards in 12 states and the Federal District, benefiting about 26,800 people.
To learn more about the other partner institutions, visit comprasolidaria.carrefour.com.br.