Social impact of Amigos do Bem in the northeast of Brazil reaches R$ 2.1 billion
According to an evaluation study carried out by IDIS, Amigos do Bem Social Return on Investment (SROI) is that R$1 donated to the project turns into R$6.45 at the end.
The Brazilian CSO Amigos do Bem has been working for 29 years to combat poverty and abandonment in the Northeastern hinterland, the most populous semi-arid region in the world. The organization regularly serves 150,000 people from 300 towns with projecs focused on education, generation of labor and income, as well as access to water, housing and health.
In 2020, the organization sought IDIS to support them in measuring the impact of their work. By using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) protocol, it was demonstrated that each R$ 1 donated to the project turns into R$ 6.45 of social benefits for the population of the Brazilian Northeastern hinterland.
Still according to the IDIS study, the investments made by Amigos do Bem between 2012 and 2021 generated and will generate social impacts in the order of R$ 2.1 billion – equivalent to USD 400 million. The greatest impact, according to the study, can be observed on generation of labor and income (38.4%) and education (35.7%), reinforcing the Sustainable Social Development Model created by the institution.
Positive and high Social Return
According to the analysis, the social return on investment of Amigos do Bem is positive and high, leading to concrete transformations for its beneficiaries and volunteers. In addition, strengthening socio-emotional skills contributes to the dissemination of impacts over the years, such as the growth of volunteer work in the region; growth of initiatives in water and housing, as well as in health and distribution of basic food baskets, providing more dignity to the life of residents of the semi-arid region, enhancing the impacts on education, work and change of mentality. Finally, it was made clear that there is great potential for replicating the service model in other locations, taking advantage of the expertise developed by Amigos do Bem, its governance, staff and volunteers.
“We have seen an increase in the interest of social organizations and investors in evaluating the impact of their projects, after all, this is a powerful tool to identify the social benefits of investment, in addition to presenting ways to improve actions. The positive results of Amigos do Bem point to the level of maturity of the organization and demonstrate its potential for expansion into other areas”, highlights Felipe Insunza Groba, project manager at IDIS
The analysis confirmed the social institution’s achievements despite the adverse scenario of the pandemic: the number of people regularly served by Amigos do Bem doubled from 75 thousand to 150 thousand; 450,000 food baskets were distributed; 4 local hospitals were structured; digital squares were created for social and digital inclusion, in addition to the installation of a “Container do Bem”, with the aim of promoting entrepreneurship. In education, a great victory: after a task force carried out by Amigos do Bem, the school in Inajá, in Pernambuco, reached an 8.0 leval in a national evaluation, being above the average of private schools from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
“For almost three decades we have been operating in the northeastern hinterland, which faces centuries of poverty. Even today, millions of people live in mud houses, without water, food or any other resource. With the help of employees and 10,600 volunteers, we are effectively transforming the lives of thousands of people, providing basic resources for life and building a different future through education and work. Together we are leaving a legacy of transformation for thousands of families who live in one of the poorest regions of the country” comments Alcione Albanesi, president and founder of Amigos do Bem.
In addition to the achievements, the social institution reinforced ESG initiatives and announced investments in the preservation of the environment, such as the use of solar energy in the hinterland, reforestation, pollination of plantations and reuse of raw material from Brazil nuts.
The case was highlighted in reports by Valor Econômico and Jornal da Band, two important media vehicles in Brazil.
Numbers of Amigos do Bem:
1 – 150 thousand people served every month;
2 – 300 villages served in the countrysides of Alagoas, Pernambuco and Ceará;
3 – 10 thousand children and young people attended at tour Transformation Centers;
4 – 1.8 million meals served per year for children at the Transformation Centers;
5 – 1.5 thousand jobs created (Growing, Cashew Nut Processing Factory, Sewing and Handicraft Workshops, Sweets and Honey Factory and Educators and administrative posts);
6 – 10,600 volunteers who dedicate more than 372 thousand hours per year;
7 – 35,000 m2 of buildings built (service centers, among others);
8 – 123 cisterns to bring water to the population;
9 – 60 drilled artesian wells;
10 – 543 houses built;
11 – More than 187,000 medical and dental consultations on 2021;
12 – More than 500 college scholarships;
13 – 1.2 billion liters of water distributed per year;
14 – 30% of Amigos do Bem’s income comes from income generation.
About Amigos do Bem
Since 1993, Amigos do Bem has been working to transform lives in the northeastern hinterland, the poorest region in Brazil. Every month, more than 150,000 people, who live in 300 villages in extreme poverty, are assisted with education, work and income, water, housing and health projects. Founded by Alcione Albanesi, Amigos do Bem is now considered one of the largest social projects in the country, having created a Sustainable Social Development Model and several social impact initiatives with the participation of almost 11,000 active volunteers.