From Rice to Rio: How the GFE Helped Transform a Brazilian Non-Profit

In April 2024, Rice Business returned to Rio de Janeiro for its Global Field Experience (GFE) program, conducting 12 consulting projects with local companies, including a follow-up with CEDAPS (Centro de Promoção da Saúde) — a non-profit addressing poverty-related issues in the city.

We recently spoke with Melissa Abla, the director of youth programs and youth coordination at CEDAPS, to get an idea of the changes that have happened in the year between the first time we worked with them and today.

Tell me about CEDAPS.

We were founded in 1993 with the intention of addressing poverty in Rio. Nearly one in three Brazilians lives in poverty, especially young people in rural areas and favelas (urban slums).

The city is known for its vibrant culture and natural beauty, but poverty affects people and society in so many ways — limited access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities, etc. So, we work with local groups and communities to create and implement programs and initiatives that address these problems.

We now operate across 18 Brazilian states in over 200 communities. We have three main areas of focus: 1. Primary care and social assistance; 2. Health and environmental issues; and 3. Youth education, employment and leadership.

A year ago, you connected with Rice Business Executive MBA students for their GFE project. What was your experience with that?

For us, it was nothing short of transformative.

The students were tasked with developing a strategic plan for CEDAPS, with a particular focus on financial planning. They got to work immersing themselves in the organization and the communities we serve to better understand the issues at hand. The candid dialogue between Rice students and the CEDAPS Youth Area team laid the groundwork for genuine understanding and collaboration.

Through their strategic plan, Rice students established a partnership model and international fundraising strategy. Since then, CEDAPS has built on that plan to formalize a partnership with the Special Olympics in Brazil. We’ve also established a long-term fundraising campaign with the Brazil Foundation, and we now work closely with GOYN, the Global Opportunity Youth Network.

The Rice team was really a catalyst for our global growth over the past year. And the students continue to stay connected with us by checking in, even after they’ve graduated. We’ve really benefited from the Rice network in such a short time.

Your growth over the past year has allowed the 2024 GFE cohort to consult on your next stage of development. Where does CEDAPS go from here?

We have an initiative called Jovem Construtores, which focuses specifically on youth empowerment. We established it in partnership with YouthBuild, a U.S.-based organization.

Jovem Construtores allows children to acquire technical knowledge and resources to enter the workforce. It has served 1,000 children with more than 5,000 hours of training. It has a 91% retention rate and 63% placement rate. Participants have carried out more than 700 projects for the community.

The 2024 Rice MBA team helped us refine our business strategies and expand our international network as we transition from direct execution to technical cooperation with favela organizations. Recently, we assumed the role of anchor partner for GOYN in Rio de Janeiro.

With every step we take, we inch closer to a future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstance.

Learn more about the Rice Business Global Field Experience and CEDAPS.