International Congress Will Discuss the Impact of COVID-19 and the Future of Social Assistance

On November 9, 10, and 11, at 6:30 p.m. (EDT), the Legion of Good Will, one of the largest civil society organizations in Brazil, will be holding the online edition of its 25^th International Congress on Social Assistance. The theme will be “The impact of COVID-19 and the future of Social Assistance.”

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The event, which will also be broadcast in English and Spanish, will bring together experts in Social Assistance and human rights, social educators, and representatives of civil society and of social movements. They will address the effects of the pandemic on Social Assistance and on the promotion of global citizenship and will propose ways of facing up to the challenges posed by economic instability, which has a direct impact on the increase in social demands. These are the speakers for this edition:

— Abigail Torres has a PhD in Social Work, Social Policies, and Social Movements. She is a researcher in the Center for Studies and Research in Social Security and Social Assistance at the Pontifical Catholic University (PUC-SP) and a consultant in Public Policy Management, with a particular emphasis on Social Assistance and children’s and adolescents’ rights policy. In addition to training professionals, representatives of social organizations, and advisers, she formulates and assesses social policies.

Topic: “Protective bonds at times of social isolation.”

— Ana Cristina Corrêa Guedes Barros has a degree in Social Work from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), an MBE in Social Responsibility and Third Sector from the Institute of Economics (UFRJ), and an Executive MBA from COPPEAD (UFRJ). She is currently the assistance manager at the National Department of the Social Service of Commerce (SESC).

Topic: “Empowering civil society to face up to the inequality caused by food insecurity.”

— Ana María Salhuana has a PhD in Economics, is a specialist in Business Administration and a representative of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Bolivia. In her 25 years’ experience with the WFP, she has held the positions of Budget & Finance Director at the organization’s headquarters in Rome and also of Finance Director in countries experiencing emergency situations, including Afghanistan, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, and Colombia. She also worked in South Sudan.

Topic: “The impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities.”

— Antonio Paulo Espeleta, a specialist in Management of Non-profit Organizations from the University of California - Berkeley, served as secretary and advisor to the President of the Legion of Good Will, José de Paiva Netto. He was a board member of the LGW and acted as its social and educational supervisor. He is currently the LGW’s Social Superintendent.

Topic: “The social support provided by the LGW during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

— Carlos Ferrari has an MBA from the Municipal University of São Caetano do Sul (USCS) and a postgraduate degree in Marketing and Persuasive Communication from the Cásper Líbero Foundation. He chaired the National Council for Social Assistance (CNAS) from 2010 through 2012, served as a member of the National Health Council (CNS), and is currently a member of the National Council for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CONADE). He is a content specialist and a consultant on matters related to management, implementation, and social control in public social assistance policy (SUAS) and the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Topic: “Multistakeholder actions in Social Assistance.”

— Priscilla Maia de Andrade is a social worker, has a Master’s degree and a PhD in Social Policy, and has been a professor at the University of Brasília (UnB) since 2011. She has experience in matters related to social assistance, gender, family, and intrafamily violence.

Topic: “Social Assistance in the trans-pandemic and post-pandemic periods.”

Registration to attend the event is free, register here.