A group of friends creates an NGO to encourage volunteer work

Argilando develops several projects and has its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, where most of its actions are concentrated. It also operates in another 19 states and the Federal District, providing consultancy to companies and civil society organizations, carrying out other projects.

The organization was created by a group of young friends in 2004 and was institutionalized in 2008. They were motivated by the possibilities of contributing to local causes and by the perception that every person has the potential to transform the present reality in favor of a dignified future, identifying in volunteering the path to embrace the different interests and potential of civil society as a way of enhancing impact on causes, places and people in vulnerable situations.

Argilando’s mission is to promote voluntary work and strengthen the third sector actions, supporting the development of organizations in their social programs and projects. Since its foundation, the institution has sought to increase social impact and to unite people, institutions, companies and governments around common interests in the search for social issues’ solutions.

With 18 years of experience, it helps clients and partners to develop social projects and corporate volunteering programs through sustainable and socially responsible practices, while promoting the inclusion and engagement of all related parties.

Argilando’s main fronts

Ecosystem of social projects: Implementation of an interconnected set of more than 40 initiatives that seek to solve social, economic or environmental problems in the regions and communities in which it operates.

Social technologies: Development of projects based on the principles of simplicity, accessibility, sustainability and capacity for replicability and adaptation to other realities.

Consultancy and specialized assistance in social responsibility, sustainability and corporate volunteering: They offer personalized solutions for companies, institutes, foundations and other organizations that wish to implement, to structure or to improve their programs, projects and actions in a safe, ethical and effective way.

Pedro, founder and current director of the NGO Argilando, talks about the institution’s developed projects. He is also a lawyer, consultant and professor of volunteering in the MBA de Responsabilidade Social e Terceiro Setor at the Instituto de Economia da UFRJ.

“Our initiatives reach a wide audience that includes young children, adults, families, pregnant women and communities through various projects such as “Levantando a Bola” and “Semente”, Banco de Doação and others. These are projects of a social, cultural and environmental nature, in addition, we are committed to providing assistance to NGOs and companies through free consultancy and service provision, among several other initiatives that makes up our social ecosystem”.

Purposes 

Argilando positively impacts the lives of more than 11,000 people annually and supports 248 institutions through 40 social initiatives, covering several areas.

“Our projects are aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, reflecting our commitment to a variety of causes, audiences and regions. In addition to our commitment to social causes, we also value and invest in the direct impact of volunteer work, for those who carry it out, contributing to social issues and also promoting the personal and professional development of volunteers and the construction of a culture of active participation in society”, says the director.

Argilando members believes that “only what makes sense, makes sense” and invite everyone to connect with the cause of volunteering, whether in partnership with the project or through one of the many notable initiatives that echo throughout Brazil and around the world. These initiatives plays a fundamental role in transforming our planet into a dignified and welcoming place for everyone of us.

Pedro ends by saying that the name Argilando is a metaphor that invites volunteers to see themselves as artisans and raw materials in the same work. This principle reflects the importance of recognizing that those who carry out voluntary work also benefit from the actions they perform. By adopting this approach, we serve volunteers together with a diversity of audiences through our projects.

Did you like the project? 

You can help by volunteering remotely or in person; donating through this link and/or connecting with the project through social media and communicating, promoting, contributing to the work in various ways. 

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