Abeuni provides educational activities and free ophthalmological and dental care to communities in São Paulo

Through dialogue with the community and with a diverse group of volunteer professionals, Abeuni promotes health not only through dental and ophthalmological care but also  by developing playful and educational activities that foster community involvement in solving problems.

In thos way, the NGO has been mobilizing volunteers for decades for the benefit of others. It’s a win-win situation: on one side, the population gains access to quality information on citizenship and free health treatments. On the other side, volunteers gain professional experience while developing behavioral skills.

The name Abeuni, explains the Communication and Marketing director Vítor Miranda de Oliveira, stands for Aliança Beneficente Universitária de São Paulo (“University Charitable Alliance of São Paulo”, in English). “But today it no longer represents that; we have dropped the acronym and it has become a single word, as it is no longer necessary for volunteers to be university students. We believe this allows for broader and more equal participation”.

The organization was founded in 1984, stemming from another civil society institution, Abenibra, which supported Japanese immigrants arriving in Brazil after the war. “The first immigrants supported by Abenibra began to have children, many of whom graduated in medicine in the 1980s. Encouraged by their parents’ experiences, they wanted to bring medical care to underprivileged communities”, recalls the director.

Over time, the democratization of access to public health and changes in population demands led Abeuni to expand its activities. In addition to offering consultations with dentists and ophthalmologists, volunteers also teach hygiene, brushing and nutrition practices; host discussions on female empowerment and self-care for women; and provide support for youth on topics related to inclusion, diversity, studies and first employment.

Free care

Since 2019, Abeuni has been organizing the Caravana da Saúde (“Health Caravan”, in English) in partnership with CEU Alvarenga, near Diadema, in the southern zone of São Paulo, involving about 200 volunteers. They utilize the space’s facilities to set up a full clinic during the service period. “It’s an open-door event. We promote the health of women, children and adolescents. We also provide dental care and consultations with ophthalmologists. Additionally, we distribute prescription glasses to those with reduced vision”, says Vítor.

In the past, Vítor explains, caravans were held throughout the state of São Paulo. “But once they were over, we would leave. Now we understand that to make a real structural impact, we need to get to know the region where we will operate, build connections, understand the problems and provide what is truly needed”.

Nowadays, the events take place in January and July during school holidays, serving about 1,400 people per year. In addition to Caravana da Saúde, there is also the Renova project, which provides education to local youth once a month. The services in this region, he notes, are strategic. “CEU Alvarenga is located in an area affected by violence and the surrounding community is very underprivileged. So we are aiming to create a positive cultural impact”.

Abeuni

The volunteers at Abeuni handle everything from setting up the service structure and promoting the event to receiving and triaging patients. There are a total of 11 operational departments, each responsible for a specific activity. Among them is the department dedicated to working with children.

Volunteers in this department ensure that boys and girls have their right to care and play, allowing their caregivers to receive services and participate in other event activities. “This department was created mainly to support mothers who lacked a support network to leave their children during appointments. This is a common situation in Brazil, where more than half of mothers are single”, says the director.

The youth department also emerged from a specific need. “We work alongside the ‘Recreio nas Férias’ program, which is an initiative by the local government. The focus is to offer cultural activities and provide integration so that children and teenagers don’t become vulnerable in the community. We organize music recitals and take them on nature trails. Here, they have a safe place to stay”.

Youth and education

The Renova project, which supports youth, takes place monthly on Saturdays. Activities that have been organized include basketball tournaments, cooking classes, drag queen shows, book clubs, reading circles, music performances, and career fairs. “We understand that schools often fall short in this area, so we provide a range of activities for young people to explore their interests and how they can develop in those areas. The goal is to promote their autonomy”, emphasizes Vítor.

“We want the youth to empower themselves in such a way that they can assess the reality around them and take action. They should be able to fight for street lighting, make their neighborhood safer, and question their current circumstances to seek change. The focus is for these young people to recognize their own potential and also to see their potential to impact their community”.

Volunteering

Vítor Miranda de Oliveira is a science teacher for elementary and secondary education. He has been volunteering at Abeuni since 2011 and has worked in various departments within the organization. Currently, he serves as the Director of Communication and Marketing. He notes that this experience has helped him develop a range of skills.

“I’ve been head of department, leading 15 people, and I’ve managed all 11 departments at Abeuni, with over 100 active members. So now I understand project management, team leadership, organizational finance – because I’ve worked in that department here – I also understand communication and marketing… This is the idea behind volunteering. That the person develops and also creates real structural impact”.

The volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and professional experiences. They range from recent high school and college graduates to older individuals with professional experience and stability. “Our volunteers come from all over São Paulo. And since dentistry is highly regarded in Brazil, sometimes we even have people from Africa, like Angola. It’s been over 40 years… Many couples have met at Abeuni, and their children have also become ‘abeunenses’. Soon, we’ll have a third generation of volunteers”, Vítor proudly shares.

Want to support this cause?

All of Abeuni’s work is funded through donations and volunteering. To sign up, click here. To support, there is a major fundraising campaign on the Benfeitoria website. For more information, visit the website and follow the social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.