A new beginning built on the foundation of solidarity

doce lar project

The Doce Lar Project experienced, in its most recent social action, one of those moments that remain etched in history and in the heart. In just a single weekend, generous hands, willing hearts, and a lot of dedication completed the construction of a house for a woman in a socially vulnerable situation.

Dona Ernestina, 66, lived alone in a shack made of scrap wood. Her only son, who lives in Bahia, helped her as much as he could, as he also faces social vulnerability.

Despite the difficulties, life went on as usual until the city government decided that the shack where she lived should be demolished due to its poor living conditions. The story reached the Doce Lar Project, and everything changed...

During their first visits, the project team understood the enormous challenge they faced: nothing could be reused; Ernestina needed a new home! Pre-construction work began about a month before Christmas.

The goal was to give Ernestina a great gift: more than just a new home, a real fresh start! These were days of intense, heavy, tiring work, but also days of dedication, unity, and purpose.

Each brick laid, each wall erected, and each detail finished carried not only physical effort, but also love, solidarity, and the certainty that no one walks alone.

This was undoubtedly one of the most challenging projects in the history of Projeto Doce Lar, as it was the first to build a house from scratch. In just a month and a half, they allowed themselves to dream big, plan with faith, and get their hands dirty to build an entire house.

None of this would have been possible without the donations obtained through Doce Lar's social media, sponsors, and volunteers who donate their time, energy, resources, and faith to restore dignity to those in need.

More than 60 volunteers left their routines and families behind and, over a weekend in December, completed the work. And so, by putting themselves at the service of others to transform realities, they prove that solidarity, when truly lived, is capable of building homes and restoring hope.

The Doce Lar Project shows, once again, that building a house goes far beyond the construction work: it is about welcoming, protecting, and restoring dignity; all done with love, in just one weekend, which changed Dona Ernestina's life forever.

Photos: Doce Lar Project

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