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The Arsenal of Hope, which we opened in 1996, wasn’t a military
arsenal, but the ‘ house of suffering’ where European
immigrants were placed in quarantine. Today, it provides a safe
haven to more than three thousand people every day.
Here, the needy receive hot meals, night shelter, medical care,
training, employment opportunities and social reintegration. It’s
a monastery in the city of San Paolo open 24 hours a day.
Thanks to the faith of the government of the state of San Paolo,
and specifically of the late Governor Covas, and to the inspiration
of Cardinal Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns and of Dom Luciano Mendes de
Almeida, Ernesto Olivero, founder of the Young People’s Missionary
Service – SERMIG, accepted the invitation to repeat in San
Paolo the successful experience in Turin (Italy): converting a former
weapons factory into an Arsenal of Peace that became a place for
dialogue and meetings as well as a care and support centre offering
services to the poor.
In a short time, with the involvement and hard work of many compassionate
men and women, the old “Hospedaria dos Imigrantes” of
San Paolo became the Arsenal of Hope:
a house open to those seeking assistance: Brazilians
and foreigners, the homeless and jobless, families that need medical
care, food, work and, above all, dignity;
a point of reference for young people who believe in
peace and who want to give their life some meaning; in particular
for young people of peace
a place to pray, where anyone can stop and seek silence
and, in silence, find God;
a space where everyone can give back something of themselves:
time, professional knowledge, personal skills, material and spiritual
resources;
The result? Together with the Arsenal of Peace of Turin, millions
of people are helping millions of needy people.
What we do at the Arsenal of Hope
Every night, thanks to the support from the government
of the state of San Paolo, we provide shelter to 1150 people
who are living temporarily on the street.
To each person receiving shelter we provide a glimmer of hope to
rediscover lost dignity, faith in their family, a job, and a future.
In 7 years since we opened our doors we have provided
the city with 2,200,200 beds and services.
We also provide care and shelter to political refugees from various
countries around the world, thanks also to support from the Caritas
of San Paolo.
In 2000 we opened the first unit of the government of the state
of San Paolo’s public food service project called
“Bom Prato” (or Good Plate). Every day we
provide 1200 meals to men, women and children. We offer
a dignified lunch at the low price of 1 Real (0.30 Euro cents).
For many families, eating at the Arsenal becomes a way of saving
money.
For the last few months the Arsenal of Hope, together with the
first unit of the Archdiocese Centre, has been hosting the workers
of San Paolo (CEAT). This new project plays an
important role in the job world. Its task is to establish contacts
between labourers and small and big companies, while focusing
in particular on the weaker segments.
The joy of Giving Back …
In today’s society, some have too much and some have nothing,
and not even basic rights, like food, water, health, education and
housing.
How simple it would be to guarantee at least this dignity of life!
It would be enough not to use one’s time, resources, skills
and creativity to obtain more, but to use them to help others. It’s
a matter of giving back one’s gifts, and not keeping them
for yourself.
Thanks to facilities like the Arsenals, giving back eliminates the
gap between those "who can" and those "who can’t":
- so that "who can" can help "who can’t"
- so that "who can’t" can help "who can’t"
- so that "who can’t today " is able to become someone
"who can"
- so that who has become someone "who can" can give back
the help received to "who can’t" and to "who
can"!
- so that everyone can experience the joy of giving back.
… and even more:
- in order to continue to support development and humanitarian
assistance projects in Brazil and in the world’s poorest countries
- so that the Arsenal can help establish lasting world peace, starting
from our Brazilian society
- so that the Young People of Peace can discover all their potential
and express it in society
- so that each person can find the way to give back some of themselves
- so that all this becomes true, closely following the will of God
You can receive news about the Arsenal through two diary entries
per month to your e-mail address. To request this information send
an e-mail to Lorenzo: lorenzo@sermig.org
ASSINDES-SP
Associação Internacional para o Desenvolvimento -
Núcleo São Paulo
Arsenal da Esperança
Rua Dr. Almeida Lima, 900 - Brás - CEP 03164-000 - São
Paulo - SP
Tel/Fax (11) 6694-5444
Conta Banco Banespa Agência 0144 - número 13-003147-6
CERTIFI. DE ENTIDADE BENEFICIENTE DE ASSISTÊNCIA SOCIAL Resolução
231 CNAS - de 24/10/2000
UTILIDADE PÚBLICA FEDERAL Decreto 50517/61 - de 03/07/2000
UTILIDADE PÚBLICA ESTADUAL Decreto 45471 - de 28/11/2000
UTILIDADE PÚBLICA MUNICIPAL Decreto 41132 - de 13/09/2001
E-MAIL brasile@sermig.org
WEBSITE www.arsenaldaesperanca.org.br
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