In the semi-arid interior of Bahia, Brazil, a new building is taking shape—one wall, one room, and one act of generosity at a time. Known as the Casa della Speranza, or House of Hope, the project will provide hundreds of vulnerable children with a safe place to learn, play, eat, and simply experience the childhood they deserve.

Supported by the Italian National Federation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the House of Hope is now approaching the final stages of construction.

Serving Children in a Region of Extreme Poverty

The project is located in Presidente Jânio Quadros, a municipality in the state of Bahia. The surrounding region faces persistent drought, chronic water shortages, malnutrition, and limited access to health care and education.

Many working-age adults leave the area in search of employment, and children are frequently left in the care of their grandparents. Some spend their days begging or collecting recyclable materials from garbage. This exposes them to illness, early school dropout, violence, exploitation, and involvement in illegal activities.

For Father Vincenzo Lumetta, a Rogationist missionary who has served in Brazil for 37 years, these conditions required more than temporary assistance. They called for a place where children could find protection, stability, and opportunities for a different future.

The Beginning of the Sant’Annibale Center

In 2016, Father Lumetta and the local Rogationist religious community founded the Sant’Annibale Community Center.

The center now welcomes approximately 300 girls and boys between the ages of 4 and 18 in a semi-residential program. Children receive nutritious meals, educational support, and access to a clean and welcoming environment.

Its mission extends beyond immediate material needs. Educational, recreational, and sports activities help children develop trust, learn peaceful ways of resolving conflict, respect shared rules, and form healthier relationships with others.

The center also serves young mothers and older adults through vocational and community programs. Sewing, ceramics, cooking, reading, music, and after-school activities bring together different generations and strengthen the social fabric of the surrounding community.

Why a House of Hope Was Needed

As the number of children seeking help continued to increase, the existing facilities became insufficient. The intense heat made outdoor activities difficult, while the center lacked a large covered area where children could safely gather during the afternoon.

The idea for the House of Hope emerged in response to that need.

The new structure is designed primarily as a spacious recreational and educational hall. It will offer children protection from the dangers of the streets, violence, and school abandonment. There, they will be able to study, play, receive an afternoon snack, and take part in organized activities.

The building will also provide space for vocational workshops in sewing, ceramics, and cooking, particularly for young mothers and older people. Father Lumetta also hopes to create a music workshop where children can learn instruments and participate in choral singing.

The goal is not simply to construct another building. It is to create a safe community capable of transforming stories marked by hardship into stories of dignity and hope.

A Project Made Possible by Solidarity

The House of Hope has been financed through the solidarity work of the Italian National Federation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, particularly its international solidarity and twinning initiatives.

The Federation initially presented the project to its supporters and invited donors to help make Father Lumetta’s vision possible. Many people contributed to the effort. A decisive contribution came from one benefactor who chose to support the entire project in memory of a loved one.

Her memorial gift, together with the generosity and continued support of the wider donor community, allowed the project to move from an idea to an active construction site. The initiative was also listed among the international cooperation projects supported by the Italian Vincentian Federation during 2025.

The way the House of Hope has been funded gives the project an additional meaning: a personal memory has been transformed into a living work that will protect and educate generations of children.

Construction Nears Completion

Recent photographs from Bahia show that the main structure has now taken a clearly defined form. The roof has been completed, and work is progressing inside the building.

The next stages will focus on three essential tasks:

• installing the floors to make the rooms safe and usable;
• completing the electrical system for the study rooms and workshops;
• painting the walls and bringing color and warmth to the new spaces.

Once these final elements are completed, the House of Hope will be ready to welcome the children of the Sant’Annibale Center.

For the children of Bahia, every finished wall represents more than construction progress. It marks another step away from hunger, insecurity, and the dangers of the street—and another step toward education, belonging, and hope.

Sources

• Italian National Federation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, “Brasile, dal sogno alla realtà: la Casa della Speranza si prepara ad accogliere i bambini di Bahia.”
• Italian National Federation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, “Brasile: Primi passi verso la Casa della Speranza.”
• Le Conferenze di Ozanam, Italian National Federation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, report on international cooperation projects supported in 2025.