The Association of Community Health Educators (AECS) in Brazil Joyfully Celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Global Ministries
The many years of partnership with Global Ministries have changed the reality of the Canal do Anil Community of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and transformed the lives of many people through the projects developed and supported by Global Ministries. The history of our organization is similar to that of other non-profit institutions, with many struggles, achievements, and joys. We can affirm that without the partnership of Global Ministries, we would hardly have been able to offer, through the projects, services, and training that have transformed lives. Being able to count on Global Ministries’ support has strengthened us and maintained our confidence as we pursue a better quality of life for the population. The work developed has always had as its main objective to transform the lives of the children, adolescents, young people, and adults assisted in the projects.
In the last 10 years, some events have occurred that we were only able to overcome because we knew that we were not alone in the daily struggles. The first was in 2016, after the termination of a lease agreement with AECS. This was one of the biggest challenges, leading the board to question whether it would be possible to continue offering services to the population. We managed to continue because we never stopped believing it was possible, and we could count on your support. The second challenge was in 2020 with the arrival of the Coronavirus and the declaration of a pandemic. It was very frightening to see people’s fear, the risks, and the loss of so many lives. Questions arose about how to maintain the projects and keep our institution’s doors open to the community, but we received extremely important financial support from Global Ministries to continue our mission.
The third event is recent. Our organization created a physiotherapy service sector in 1998, which is our largest project, but also the one that requires the largest financial budget. Over the years we have offered this service, the biggest concern has been maintaining it. The year 2025 began with the sector open, but in April of that year, the partnership that maintained the service informed us that it would terminate the contract. We were closed for several months, but we never stopped believing in the return of services. It was Global Ministries that, in the second half of 2025, gave us the news we had been waiting for so eagerly — financial support for the resumption of our services to the community. This support renewed our strength, our hopes, and our confidence that our mission would continue. The challenges we overcame have made AECS stronger, writing a legacy of struggles and triumphs into its history that would not have been possible without the support of Global Ministries.
We offer our deepest gratitude for the years of mission work Global Ministries carries out across the globe, striving to restore the dignity of those who suffer so deeply from social injustice. Global Ministries contributes to making the world a better place by preserving human dignity. Jesus Christ is the ultimate example to follow. He—who always sought to stand alongside those marginalized and discriminated against by the society of His time—strengthens us, giving us the power to press on, to persevere, and to never give up on this most honorable mission. Our wish for all those who stand alongside the suffering is that you never cease to believe in the transformative power of love and in the strength of unity. That, united with Christ our Lord, we may bring hope and contribute to the building of a better world. May our faith be strengthened and renewed each day, and may it, too, be capable of restoring and transforming lives.
“A dream dreamed alone is just a dream, but a dream dreamed together becomes reality.”
Learn more about the Association of Community Health Educators (AECS) in Brazil