About Us

AMAS Foundation

AMAS – Mennonite Association of Social Assistance, was founded on September 6, 1970, in the city of Palmeira-PR, as a response from the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Witmarsum to the vulnerable situation of children in the region. Conceived by the teacher and pastor Peter Pauls Junior (1933-2016), AMAS was born with the motto “Serving with the love of Christ”.

The first unit was opened in Palmeira, with 15 children. In 1972, during the Mennonite World Congress in Curitiba, the Mennonite churches (represented by AIMB – Association of Mennonite Churches in Brazil, which included Boqueirão, Witmarsum and Vila Guaíra – now Água Verde) joined forces to consolidate and expand the work that was started in Palmeira. AMAS then began to support students in local schools and to offer services to vulnerable families. Over the years, 8 more units were established. 

As an evangelical entity, AMAS follows the mission of being inspired by the example of Jesus Christ, the Word of God and has Christian values as the basis for its activities. In fulfilling its mission, AMAS obeys Brazilian laws, honors the established authorities and contributes to a more just and peaceful Brazil, while maintaining its political neutrality and not supporting parties or candidacies.

AMAS works in partnership and synergy with other CSOs (Civil Society Organizations), such as AMEC – Mennonite Educational and Cultural Association (since 2023), and the Missionary Work Message of Peace (since 1989), with headquarters in Palmeira and Imbituva, respectively.

AIMB – Association of Mennonite Churches of Brazil. The women’s committee of AIMB, in partnership with AMAS, assisted families that were affected by the severe flood of 1983, in the regions of Santa Catarina and Paraná. Today, the organization continues to empower families, counting with the support of the State through the Assistance Network.

  • In 1986, in partnership with the Protestant Church of Germany, an EXCHANGE program between young Germans and Brazilians began.
  • In 1986, AMAS began the Christmas Bazaar, now called “FEIRA NATALINA”, an event happens every year. 
  • In 1989, AMAS founded the ESTRELA DE BELÉM Unit, in partnership with the Mennonite Brethren Church Núcleo Leiteiro – Lapa and with the financial support of the Church of Eibelshausen and Professor Günter Stern. Today, it operates as a Coexistence and Strengthening of Bonds Service (SCFV). 
  • In 2002, AMAS HEADQUARTERS were transferred to offices in XAXIM – Curitiba, provided by the Gerhard Ens family. The AMAS SHOP also operates in the same location. 
  • In 2014, AMAS opens a Unit in UBERABA – Curitiba, the CEI APRENDENDO COM AMOR. 
  • In 2017, in partnership with TO ALL NATIONS, AMAS opens 3 new units in Paraná: TEIXEIRA SOARES, IMBITUVA and REBOUÇAS.

Mission

Welcome children and adolescents.
Bless families and communities.

Vision

Lives transformed.

Motto

Serving with the love of Christ.

This is the motto that supports every action of AMAS employees and volunteers. It means to seek the main concept of the gospel as the basis for each and every activity developed at AMAS. It means putting the person and their needs first, listening, caring and respecting. It means acting with love, seeking to transform every area of life, following the example of Jesus Christ.

Values

  • Serve with love
  • Transparency 
  • Responsibility 
  • Commitment 
  • Faith in Christ
  • Cooperation
  • Unity 
  • Perseverance.

How we operate

Our work consists of the following areas of activity:

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Service focused on basic education, with 4 Early Childhood Education Centers that provide comprehensive care for approximately 365¹ children aged 4 months to 5 years.

Units: Aprendendo com Amor, Cantinho da Criança, Letras Douradas and Peixinho Feliz.

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Service focused on the Coexistence and Strengthening of Bonds, with in 8 units that provide service outside of school hours for approximately 1,037¹ children and adolescents, aged 6 to 17 years.

Units: Cantinho da Criança, Criança Feliz, Doce Sorriso, Estrela de Belém, Letras Douradas, Peixinho Feliz, Semeando Valores and Sementinha.

In total, the units have approximately 212 employees¹, and operate according to the local context, with plans and pathways that stimulate learning, social interaction, values and health through cultural, recreational, artistic and sports activities. Through these offerings, we seek to contribute significantly to the advancement of Child and Adolescent Protection Policies.

_________

¹Numbers updated according to the 2024 balance.

PARTNERS AND SUPPORT:

AIMB (Association of Mennonite Churches of Brazil) – We are grateful for the significant support, for the voluntary and active contribution in many ways: with spiritual support, support from the Board of Directors, Council, fundraising and others.

Volunteers – We have volunteers who help with fundraising actions, organization, maintenance and much more.

Sponsorship – Faithful sponsors who are present in the lives of many children and adolescents assisted by AMAS.

Public Agencies – Partners who offer us the conditions, guidance and means to continue and improve our work.

Over the years, we have seen the great impact of the developed actions, and how many lives have been transformed.

Identity, Structure and Governance

The legal responsibility for the Institution in 2024 is as follows:

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • PRESIDENT: DIETMAR KLIEWER
  • VICE-PRESIDENT: MARCOS EPP 
  • 1st SECRETARY: JAIRO OSCAR DO NASCIMENTO
  • 2nd SECRETARY:  
  • 1st TREASURER: EGON HAMM
  • 2nd TREASURER: KURT PETERS

ADVISORS

  • ANA CRISTINA PRINCE GUNHA DO NASCIMENTO
  • ANDERSON NIKKEL
  • BERTOLDO TÖWS
  • BRIGITTE PAULS SCHARTNER
  • DANIEL FRIESEN
  • ERICA PAULS
  • HELMUTH PAULS
  • JOELMA RODRIGUES PAES NOBREGA
  • JOSÉ DIOGO MATIAS
  • JULIANE DE CAMARGO WINTER
  • LEANDRO LEMOS GONZAGA DE OLIVEIRA
  • MARLENE TÖWS
  • RUDOLF HAMM FILHO


AUDIT COMMITTEE

Members

  • HORST MANFRED UNRUH
  • ADELBERT SCHARTNER
  • HARRY BOLDT

Alternate members

  • LUCAS BOLDT
  • SILVESTRE GOGOLA DA SILVEIRA
  • DIOGO HENRIQUE MARQUES DOS SANTOS RIBEIRO DA SILVA

 

LIST OF PRESIDENTS

PERIOD

Waldyr Golfetto (In memoriam)

1970 – 1972 

Alfred Pauls

1972 – 1981 

Ernesto Loewen

1981 – 1982 

Rodolfo Helmut Loewen

1982 – 1986 

Henrique Loewen (In memoriam)       

1986 – 1988 

Henrique Ens (In memoriam)

1988 – 1993 

Boris Janzen (In memoriam)

1993 – 1996 

Helmut Nikkel

1996 – 1999 

Heinrich Koop (In memoriam)

1999 – 2002 

Hermann Heinrichs

2002 – 2009 

Rudolf Hamm Filho

2009 – 2017 

Egon Hamm

2017 – 2023 

Dietmar Kliewer

2023 – Today

GUIDELINES, LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS FOLLOWED BY AMAS
We follow all the norms and guidelines of public policies agreed upon at the municipal, state and federal levels; therefore, all AMAS Units are registered and in good standing with the Municipal Councils for the Rights of the Child and Adolescent, as well as with the Municipal Councils for Social Assistance.

Our organization has the Official Recognition as a Nonprofit Serving Public Interest:

  • Municipal Utility granted by Law No. 8,327, 12/06/93;
  • State Utility granted by Law No. 6,680, 06/16/75;
  • Federal Utility granted by Law 91/35,10/26/95.

Certificate of Charitable Social Assistance Entity (CEBAS), granted according to Ordinance No. 642 of June 23, 2021 Official Journal of the Federal Government (DOU) 06/25/2021



ADMINISTRATION AT AMAS
We have nine Units that are subordinated to the Council, Board of Directors, General Coordination, and Social Projects Coordination.

UNITS

APRENDENDO COM AMOR
88 children from 4 months to 4 years.
UBERABA – Curitiba (PR)
Rua Francisco Licnerski, 383
Phone: +55 (41) 3364-2533

CANTINHO DA CRIANÇA
182 children from 3 months to 12 years.
PINHEIRINHO – Curitiba (PR)
Rua Monte Sião, 345
Phone: +55 (41) 3346-6730

CRIANÇA FELIZ
203 children from 5 to 16 years.
PALMEIRA (PR)
Rua Conceição, 1853
Phone: +55 (42) 3252-1173

DOCE SORRISO/OBRA MISSIONÁRIA
165 children from 4 to 9 years.
IMBITUVA (PR)
Rua Maximiana Schneider Pentedo, 156
Phone: +55 (42) 3436-1790

ESTRELA DE BELÉM
216 children from 5 to 12 years.
LAPA (PR)
Rua Leôncio Correia, 339
Phone: +55 (42) 3622-3211

LETRAS DOURADAS
111 children from 2 to 10 years.
XAXIM – Curitiba (PR)
Rua Narciso Mendes, 630
Phone: +55 (41) 3275-4522

PEIXINHO FELIZ
185 children from 3 months to 14 years.
PORTO AMAZONAS (PR)
Rua Newton Craveiro Amorim, 45.
Phone: +55 (42) 3256-1200

SEMEANDO VALORES
75 children from 5 to 10 years.
REBOUÇAS (PR)
Rua Armando Costa, 1119
Phone: +55 (42) 3457-2610

SEMENTINHA
188 children from 5 to 12 years.
TEIXEIRA SOARES (PR)
Rua João Ribeiro dos Reis, s/n
Phone: +55 (42) 3460-1277


EXECUTIVE BOARD HEADQUARTERS

General Manager – Fridbert August
Management— Ingrid Koop Winter
Finance Department— Maria D. B. de Lara
Administrative Support— Irene Friesen

Human Resources— Juliany Lima
Social Worker— Isabelle Farias Mendonça Silveira
Sponsorships— Elisabete Pauls
Logistics— Leonardo Harder
Store and Donations— Rosemar G. N. Kotuski, Lilian Penner, Elaine Thiessen
Designer and Social Media— Vithor Oliveira

History of the Mennonites in Brazil

The Mennonites who came from Russia between 1928 and 1934 were initially settled in the region of Ibirama, in Santa Catarina. Facing difficulties in adapting due to the local terrain, many migrated to the region of Curitiba, settling in the neighborhoods of Boqueirão and Vila Guaíra, and established Witmarsum, a colony in Palmeira, all in the state of Paraná. Another group settled in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, founding the colony Colônia Nova. In these communities, the Mennonites built churches, schools and created cooperatives. The global Mennonite community currently has more than 2 million people, concentrated mainly in Africa and North America.

Where does the term Mennonites come from?

The term “Mennonites” comes from the name of Menno Simons (1496-1561), a Dutch Catholic priest who converted to Anabaptism, a Radical Reformation movement that began in 1525, shortly after the Protestant Reformation of 1517. Initially concentrated in northern Europe, the Mennonites were invited by Tsarina Catherine II of Russia, around 1770, to populate the northern region of the Black Sea (now Ukraine). However, after World War I, the persecution by the Russian communist party led many Mennonites to flee the country. The first Mennonites arrived in Brazil in 1928.

Certifications

Committed to combating violence against children and adolescents and strengthening the comprehensive protection of children, adolescents and their families, AMAS is committed to acting in accordance with the legislation, regulations and guidelines of Public Policies for Education and Social Assistance. In this way, all Units work to keep the good standing status of their registrations and participate in the Deliberative Councils, Human Rights Councils, Protection Networks and other movements of partner organizations.

  • Municipal Council for the Rights of the Child and Adolescent
    100% of the units are registered and in good standing
  • Municipal Council for Social Assistance
    100% of the units are registered and in good standing
  • Certificate of Social Assistance Entity
    Approved according to Ordinance No. 642, of June 23, 2021. Official Journal of the Federal Government (DOU) 06/25/2021
  • SESI ODS 2024 Seal

  • REPAS Paraná Social Assistance Network

How to help?

You can support AMAS in many ways — through your prayers, by volunteering, allocating your income tax, and several other means. Learn more here and come serve with us.

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