Christened Casa Bom Samaritano (Good Samaritan Home), the center is located in the Lago Sul region on a property provided by Brazil’s National Conference of Bishops (CNBB). The reception center will be managed jointly by AVSI Brasil and IMDH, serving as a temporary residence for families and individuals in a rotating system. Each group of 15 families will live in the center for up to three months.
Fabrizio Pellicelli, AVSI Brasil president, says the center went through an extensive renovation in 2020. The new building now offers individual accommodations for each family and common areas such as a kitchen, cafeteria, and laundry. The reception center also has a few classrooms, where the Venezuelan refugees will learn Portuguese and build the skills they need to be successful as they enter the job market. As part of the project’s social assistance component, a social worker helps families integrate into their new community and workplace.