About Kolibri
We are a non-profit social organization which has been operating for more than 27 years. We provide support for children, adolescents and youngsters between 6 and 18 years old who are in vulnerable situations, as well as their families.
In 1993, Gregory John Smith (photo) started helping approximately 40 girls and boys who were living in the streets in São Paulo’s city-center. He gave them shelter on the banks of the Billings Dam in Diadema.
Since our beginning nearly three decades ago we have been investing in social projects and programs of a preventive character by providing support the community directly and indirectly; through the children and adolescents, and their families.
TThe social work is offered through our network of three community centers which are located in Diadema in the outskirts of São Paulo.
Our story
In 1993, Gregory John Smith (photo) started helping approximately 40 girls and boys who were living in the streets in São Paulo’s city-center. He gave them shelter on the banks of the Billings Dam in Diadema.
Since our beginning nearly three decades ago we have been investing in social projects and programs of a preventive character by providing support the community directly and indirectly; through the children and adolescents, and their families.
TThe social work is offered through our network of three community centers which are located in Diadema in the outskirts of São Paulo.
Our commitment
Our mission
- Promote a safe, social environment through projects and programs with preventive purposes for children and adolescents, living in socially precarious areas in the city
- Provide education, artistic development, sport, leisure, entertainment, opportunities as well as racial and cultural diversity, ecological awareness and professional training;
- Raise their self-esteem, self-confidence, character and sense of citizenship, in order to foster potential youth leaders in the community.
Our vision
- Promote the development of children, adolescents living in socially precarious city areas and their families at our three units;;
- Act as a launch pad for potential creativity and as a nucleus for the preservation of human values, generating a critical view of reality as well as awareness of social problems;
- Contribute to positive social changes at different levels of society: locally, nationally and internationally.
Our values
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Our activities are a non-partisan, democratic and participatory, respecting equally all religions, races, ethnicities, genders and sexual diversity;
- We act in order to improve the cultural, social and educational development of Kolibri’s community, students, parents, employees, collaborators, and the communities bordering our centers;
- We act on the principles of developing independence, identity and youth entrepreneurship, in order to promote the participants’ full exercise of citizenship;
- We will work with partners that can help us gain more knowledge and accumulate new competencies;
- We will work with the objective of creating and integrating internal and external networks;
- We will act as the forefront of discussions and debates regarding social, educational and cultural issues that are of public interest and, specifically, of the communities surrounding the Kolibri centers;
- We will promote actions that encourage social justice and the well-being of the least favored members of the society (socially, culturally and economically);
- We shall always guarantee space for the least favored members of the society (socially, culturally and economically).
Strategic partner: CARF
Kolibri was implemented thanks to the Children At Risk Foundation -(CARF), an international foundation with its headquarters in Bergen, Norway. Its objective is to sign partnership with companies, schools, private individuals, to make the Kolibri’s social projects in Brazil possible.
In the photo, CARF’s team: Peter Munck (general director), Elisabeth Hammerstad (accounting), Sigve Fjeldtvedt (senior consultant).
Strategic partner: CARF
Kolibri was implemented thanks to the Children At Risk Foundation -(CARF), an international foundation with its headquarters in Bergen, Norway. Its objective is to sign partnership with companies, schools, private individuals, to make the Kolibri’s social projects in Brazil possible.
In the photo, CARF’s team: Peter Munck (general director), Elisabeth Hammerstad (accounting), Sigve Fjeldtvedt (senior consultant).
Certifications and awards
Municipal Public Utility
State Public Utility
Social Technology award 2015
World of Children Award 2014
Culture and Health Award 2010
Fellow da Ashoka
Given to Kolibri’s founder, Gregory J. Smith.
Our team
Board
Juliana Meyer Gottardi
President
Juliana G. Meyer Gottardi is the associate and founder of Pacheco Neto, Sanden, Teisseire Advogados, a law firm in São Paulo, and she is specialized in business contracts. She has a bachelor in Law at PUC-PR (1999), a MBA in Corporate and Economic Law at FGV (2002), she has done a course in International Contracts at PUC-PR (2005) as well as a course in real estate transactions at FGV (2010).
Currently vice-president of the Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in Brazil (São Paulo), she’s a member of Family Business Study Group of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and legal advisor to the Scandinavian Church in São Paulo. Since April 2015, she’s a volunteer at Kolibri, as President.
Sven Blikstad
Vice President
With a bachelor in Economics, Sven Magnus Blikstad graduated from the University of Campinas. He worked as Financial Market Executive at the Bank of Boston (Brazil and United States), as Credit Director for Latin America (Brazil and Mexico) and President of the Scandinavian Association in São Paulo. He is currently a volunteer at Kolibri, as Vice President.
Ana Leticia Ferreira
Treasurer Director
WIth a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP) Ana Leticia is a Business Controller at Mentor Media, a company of the Elanders Group. She worked in the in the Swedish-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and in the Swedish Trade Council. She is currently volunteering at Kolibri, as Treasurer Director
Lars Stefan Lundkvist
Fiscal Council
With a MSc in Management from Stockholm School of Economics and with an Exchange Program in Marketing at Fundação Getúlio (FGV), Lard Stefan is Managing Partner of BM Optimus Consultoria Ltda and associated companies. He initiated and orientated Gunnebo Industries’ activities in Brazil. He is the Treasurer and member of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce’s board in Brazil, was auditor of the Fiscal Council and later Treasurer on the Scandinavian Church, where he now serves as Vice President. He is currently volunteering at Kolibri, as Tax advisor.
Francisco A. R. Filho
Fiscal Council
With a BA in Management from Pontifícia Unversidade Católica de Campinas (PUCCAMP) and having studied Marketing at Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing (ESPM), Francisco is a Financial Administrative Director and has served as Business Unit Director and Controllership Manager in companies such as Fnac Brasil, Robert Bosch Brasil and Swedish Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. He is currently volunteering at Kolibri, as a member of the Fiscal Council.
Luiz da Cruz Rosa
Fiscal Council
Luis da Cruz Rosa has studied mechanics and maintenance at the Senai Institution. He worked at Braz Metal, a metallurgical company. He later founded Transportadora Turística Eldorado Ltda., a vehicle rental company, and Estamparia de Metalurgia Cruz e Souza, a company that trades automotive parts trade, he is the director and the manager of these two companies. He also volunteers to Kolibri as a member of the Fiscal Council.
Administration
Ivone Silva
Executive Director
Arnaldo Augusto Oliveira
Administrative Management
Mara Cristina Silva
Financial assistant
Noé De Sousa Mota
Administrative Technical Assistant
Denílson Silva
Project Manager
Operations
André Francisco Alexandre
Maintenance Assistant
Tatiana Precioso
Administrative Assistant
Zilma Maria de Melo
General Services Assistant
Vitor José Pires dos Santos
Recepcionista de Secretaria
Pedagogical Partner
Lígia Cristina Vicente
Educational coordinator
Communication
Fábio Dias
Communication advisor
Cultural Activities
Júlio César Santos
Intern (Percussion)
Guilherme Quero
Socio-Educational Advisor
Vitória Pereira Borges
Estagiária Nutriação
Education
Davi Anderson Silva
Social Projects Coordinator
Fátima Corrêa
Pedagogical Coordinator Assistant
