The circle of Renascer's volunteers and partners is always increasing.

It has been proved that releasing a child from the Hospital back to an environment of severe poverty, where there are no chances of continuing with the treatment and where there are poor conditions of recovery, this child will for sure return to the hospital, increasing then the number of hospitalizations.

"One of the main results of Renascer was soon felt in the Pediatric Ward of Hospital da Lagoa, because the hospitalization we call social hospitalization no longer exists. In other words, those children that returned due to their social condition, that brought back the disease, such hospitalizations no longer exist. They are over". Dr. Odilon Arantes, Chief of Pediatrics, Hospital da Lagoa - RJ

Renascer's team breaks the vicious cycle - poverty illness admission release re-admission death - and goes straight to the core of the problem. A survey conducted in December 2006, showed that there has been a decrease of 66% in the number of children's re-admissions at Hospital da Lagoa. Doctors and nurses of the Pediatric Ward of the Hospital da Lagoa were further motivated and were able to do their jobs in a more serene environment.

"Renascer means everything! I could not think of Pediatrics (in the Hospital da Lagoa) without the Association. If anything happened, I would retire. There would be no other way."
Ana Tereza Albano, Pediatric Nurse in the HL for the last 24 years.

A path for hope and action

Mothers of the small patients are usually alone and have very little support to raise their children. In the past, the scenario responsible for the illnesses was unchanged. Now it is possible to prove that there is a path of hope, renewal and structure. Renascer's activities and projects are entirely directed to the well-being and rescue of family members as citizens.

"We are conscious that we are unable to solve all issues of Public Health in Brazil. But this is a beginning, an initiative that is within our reach."
Vera Cordeiro, Founder of Renascer.

When in contact with the families, we realize that some families' members do not have the emotional or professional ability to change the situation they are in.

It is common for mothers to put aside an activity that generated some income in order to care of the sick child. The returning to the job market becomes impossible. Usually the father is not a part of the family anymore. Lack of information regarding personal care, hygiene, sexuality, illness, eating habits, civil rights among many others constitutes barriers for restructuring the family. Thus, Renascer started including in its activities, informative conferences and professionalizing courses, in addition to offering resources that can help the families in achieving a higher quality of life.

Dr. Vera Cordeiro is Fellow ASHOKA, Leader AVINA, Social Entrepreneur SCHWAB FOUNDATION and SKOLL FOUNDATION and Board of PATH