CIEDS provides opportunities for socially vulnerable neurodivergent children in Brazil

In the Pacajus municipality in the state of Ceará, Brazil, the Semillas de la Inclusión project uses education, health, and nutrition as tools to support the comprehensive development of neurodivergent children —with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)— who live in socially vulnerable situations. The project also offers their families support.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between CIEDS (Integrated Center for Sustainable Development Studies and Programs) and Fundación MAPFRE. These entities have joined forces to expand access to the care these children need, promote inclusion, and boost local protection networks.

The project is based at the Maloca dos Brilhante Cultural Center, the first cultural center in Pacajus, created and managed by CIEDS as a space to promote access to culture, education, and citizen development. Here they hold horticultural therapy sessions, provide psychosocial care and educational activities, and organize family gatherings, all coordinated by a multidisciplinary team that works with the public health, education, and social care services.

The project aims to ensure more equitable development conditions for the children who take part, encouraging them to form bonds and promoting their independence and care in their surroundings, so they can enjoy a loving, welcoming, and inclusive environment.