CARE International’s history in Brazil
Beginning in 1953, Brazil, along with other Latin American countries with European and Japanese immigrant communities, sent CARE Packages™ to Europe as part of CARE International's larger war recovery efforts after World War II.
Nearly 50 years later, it was the international community's turn to support the country. CARE worked in Brazil from 2001 to 2016, partnering with government institutions and local organizations to address poverty and inequality across urban and rural communities.
During this period, CARE supported programs focused on education, livelihoods, and resilience to climate change impacts. Projects helped rural schools expand vocational training, supported communities to develop sustainable businesses, and promoted access to microfinance for families with limited economic opportunities.
CARE also worked with communities and state governments to link climate action with poverty reduction. This work included initiatives that supported sustainable forest management and efforts to reduce deforestation.
Today, CARE’s engagement in Brazil continues through partnerships with national organizations as part of regional programs that promote women’s rights and economic opportunities.
CARE and partners’ work in Brazil today
CARE works with partners in Brazil to strengthen the rights and working conditions of paid domestic workers.
Our work focuses on:
Making the economy work for women
CARE supports paid domestic workers to strengthen professional skills, improve income opportunities, and gain recognition for their work.
Gender equality
We work with domestic workers’ organizations to promote fair labor conditions and strengthen workers’ ability to advocate for their rights.
Through regional initiatives such as Women, Dignity, and Work and Strengthening the Domestic Workers Movement in Latin America through Learning and Technology, CARE and our partners support domestic workers to strengthen leadership, expand access to training, and build collective voice.
These initiatives are implemented in partnership with the Brazilian organization THEMIS, which works to advance women’s rights and fair access to the justice system.
Focus on women and girls
Women are at the center of CARE’s work in Brazil.
Domestic work is a major source of employment for women across Latin America, yet many workers face low wages, limited protections, and unsafe working conditions.
CARE and our partners support women domestic workers to:
- Strengthen professional skills and leadership
- Access information about labor rights and protections
- Advocate for fair working conditions
- Build networks and collective voice through worker organizations
By supporting women’s leadership and economic opportunities, CARE helps promote dignity, rights, and economic security for domestic workers.
