Climate change has impacted everyone, but have you ever stopped to think about how it’s affecting children?

The environment has been going through challenging times, raising serious concerns. Yet little is said about how deeply children are affected by all this. As the years go by, they are increasingly having to deal with extreme events that directly impact their lives. According to a 2021 report by Save the Children, children born at the beginning of this decade will face 6.8 times more heatwaves than those born in 1960. The consequences of this are already visible—for example, earlier this year, the heat was so intense that it forced schools to close and made learning more difficult for students.

This is just one of many issues influenced by climate change. We can list several recent events that have affected thousands of children in vulnerable situations—such as the floods in Rio Grande do Sul in 2024.

Access to nature is also diminishing year by year. With the growth of urbanization and large cities, green spaces are becoming increasingly scarce. As noted by Maria Isabel, a specialist in childhood and nature at Instituto Alana: “homes have gotten smaller, access to public spaces has decreased, it has become less safe, and less common, and children have been losing opportunities to play outdoors.”

Areas of Life Most Affected
The document “Early Childhood at the Center of the Climate Crisis Response”, developed by the Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância, highlights some of the areas most affected in children’s lives due to the climate crisis. The organization outlines seven key impacts that children may face:

• Agricultural losses and food insecurity

• Increase in infectious and transmissible diseases

• Loss of housing and forced displacement

• Exposure to contaminants

• Premature death

• Reduced access to quality education and healthcare

• Toxic stress and mental health challenges

In addition, the study also shows that Black and Indigenous children, as well as those living in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, are the most affected by the climate crisis and food insecurity. This further illustrates how structural inequalities disproportionately impact people in vulnerable situations whenever there is a global crisis.

Given the constant flow of environmental news, many children may also feel concerned about the future, leading to anxiety. As Maria Isabel explains: “Many children already report anxiety, worry, and a deep sense of anguish — both when they are experiencing extreme events and when they are exposed to the overwhelming news.”

Environmental Education

Environmental education is a right guaranteed by law to all citizens. Even though discussions about climate change have gained greater prominence in recent years, as seen in the news, the National Environmental Education Policy was established in 1999, aiming to promote an integrated understanding of the environment in its multiple and complex relationships—including ecological, psychological, legal, political, social, economic, scientific, cultural, and ethical aspects.

Environmental education also plays a key role in the process of preserving the environment, especially in the early years of school, when children are learning how to engage with the world around them. According to the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, moments of contact with nature—whether through activities or daily interactions—are essential for children’s development.

“These experiences in childhood are fundamental to nurturing the feeling that we are part of this greater chain of life. And we need to understand that the impacts we have on nature are directly related to our own survival,” explains the specialist from Instituto Alana.

That’s why it is crucial for organizations and public authorities to remain attentive and actively strengthen initiatives for environmental protection and education.

Climate Justice and the Role of Instituto C

For Instituto C, talking about the environment is also a way of pursuing social justice and greater equality for families. During our group sessions, this is a topic we seek to raise and discuss collectively, to listen and understand how climate change directly affects their lives.

Renata Chiapetta, a social worker and one of the institute’s technical staff, explains that children can also be agents of change—if we provide them and their families with the knowledge, tools, and support they need. She also emphasizes the importance of ensuring climate justice for people living in socially vulnerable conditions.

“Social justice and climate justice are interconnected. When a mother has to choose between buying water or food for her children, between ‘saving’ furniture or making sure all her kids are safely removed from a flooded area, or between risking sending her children to a school with a damaged roof or losing a government cash benefit—that’s not just her problem, it’s our problem.”

That’s why one of our key responsibilities is to advocate for the rights of families already suffering the consequences of climate change. As Renata points out, it’s increasingly clear that children are the most affected. “Droughts, floods, extreme heat, and food insecurity are not ‘future issues’—they are current realities for many of the families we support,” she notes.

Therefore, public policies that aim to prevent or respond to these impacts are urgently needed.

Public Authorities as Agents of Change

Through the National Environmental Education Policy, several public policies were established to ensure that all Brazilians have access to environmental education—so that, together, we can build social values, knowledge, skills, attitudes, and competencies aimed at preserving the environment, which is essential for a healthy quality of life and sustainability.

Today, Bill 2225/2024 proposes the creation of a Legal Framework for Children and Nature, establishing policies and tools to ensure that all children and adolescents can connect with nature through exploration and experience. This is one of several initiatives supported by child advocacy organizations.

However, Brazil still has a long way to go. Maria Isabel notes that public policies need to go beyond prevention and also serve as a foundation for adapting to climate change. For her, schools have a vital role in both bridging the gap between children and nature and in spreading good practices related to climate adaptation.

“We need to adapt cities to these changes, because climate change is not going away anytime soon. The heat will keep intensifying, as will pollution and rainfall. We must focus on adaptation—and schools can be at the center of this effort,” she emphasizes.

The conversation circles, one of the key activities offered by Instituto C to families, are far more than simple group meetings. They act as powerful spaces for integration, fostering authentic connections, active listening, and the enriching exchange of knowledge and experiences.

Through these meaningful dialogues, families learn about important issues and strengthen their community bonds—creating an environment of support, learning, and mutual care.

In this article, you’ll better understand how conversation circles work at the Central Hub and North Zone Hub, the methodology used by Instituto C, and the importance of these moments for each family that participates.

Conversation Circles: Why and How Do They Happen?

Instituto C’s headquarters is located at the Central Hub, where the Family Action Plan is carried out—this was the organization’s first project and the foundation for testing and developing its current care methodology.

At the Central Hub, conversation circles occur every two months and are part of the family care plan. They follow a structured schedule: one month is dedicated to individual sessions with case managers, and the following month, the conversation circle takes place, followed by multidisciplinary services. “We have a planned calendar with six main topics we discuss throughout the year. Families are divided into groups to ensure everyone’s inclusion, and for about an hour, they participate in the discussions,” explains Katia Moretti, coordinator of the Central Hub.

In contrast, the North Zone Hub, launched in March 2022, is where the Cidadania em Rede project is implemented—a comprehensive initiative that brings together Instituto C’s expertise to serve families in vulnerable situations with children and adolescents from surrounding communities.

There, conversation circles are held weekly, with a new topic each week. Unlike the Central Hub, where topics are repeated, the North Zone features a constant variety of themes. In addition to individual services, families have a group session every Monday afternoon. Topics are chosen based on case managers’ observations during individual meetings, recurring needs, or relevant events such as Yellow September (a suicide prevention campaign).

“Each week, a different case manager leads the circle. Two professionals are involved: one chooses the topic and leads the discussion, while the other supports the logistics and setup. The leading professional can facilitate the session themselves or invite a guest expert,” says Talita Lima, coordinator of the North Zone Hub.

The Impact of Conversation Circles

The conversation circles are carefully prepared by Instituto C’s professionals, who identify shared concerns among families and conduct research to enhance the discussions. The aim is to create a collaborative learning environment, not just a lecture format. Dynamic activities encourage active participation, inviting families to share their own stories and insights.

The impact is clear in family evaluations. “The average satisfaction score is extremely high—9.95 out of 10—and all families strongly agree that the sessions help them deal with unfamiliar topics,” says Katia.

“I received valuable, up-to-date information I had never accessed before,” shared Fernanda Lima Zerbatto de Lucena, a participant at the Central Hub.

At the North Zone Hub, although all families are invited, sessions occur outside regular service hours and are scheduled alongside case review and home visits. “We’ve noticed that attendance varies and is usually lower compared to the total number of families served. However, topics that deeply resonate—such as autism or child development—often draw a larger audience,” explains Talita.

There, topics are announced in advance, allowing families to choose the sessions most relevant to them. “This results in more engaged participation. Even if the number is smaller, those who attend are genuinely interested,” Talita adds.

In 2023, 87% of families at the North Zone Hub rated the circles as excellent. “It was very helpful to reflect on some of my parenting habits—what I need to improve, how far I’ve come, and how important it is to raise children with both firmness and empathy,” shared Laize O. C. Santana, one of the mothers served by Instituto C.

Another participant, Nathalia Stephanie Felix de Morais, highlighted the importance of connection: “This meeting allowed me to express myself and listen to others who are going through—or have gone through—similar challenges.”

Topics Covered in Conversation Circles

At the Central Hub in 2023, the topics were:

• Ableism

• Violence against women

• The importance of play

• Home gardening

• Identity and representation

• Life planning and goal setting

Among these, Katia highlights ableism and the importance of play as especially powerful conversations that helped demystify common misconceptions. “Connecting with the stories, struggles, and victories of other families builds a sense of community and mutual support,” she emphasizes.

“I learned a lot from this conversation circle. I had heard about the importance of play from other professionals, but today I really understood. The way it was explained opened my eyes. From now on, I’ll see my son’s therapy with a different perspective,” shared Katiane de Fátima da Silva, reflecting on the circle about the importance of play.

At the North Zone Hub, Talita points out highlights like the circle on autism, which included a neuro-educator and drew great interest. Other impactful sessions covered women’s health and female sexuality, which sparked both curiosity and important conversations about often-taboo topics. “We conduct evaluations after each circle, giving families the opportunity to provide feedback and suggestions. Overall, the responses are positive. Families recognize that they’re not alone—and that shared experience fosters connection,” Talita concludes.

More Than Just a Meeting

In this way, it’s clear that Instituto C’s conversation circles are far more than casual gatherings—they are powerful spaces of connection, growth, and support. Whether at the Central Hub or the North Zone Hub, these sessions offer families the opportunity to reflect on relevant issues while being seen, heard, and embraced as part of a caring community. The active participation of families, even when dealing with difficult or sensitive subjects, highlights just how essential and impactful these moments are for well-being and holistic development—for everyone involved.

NGO – What Does It Mean?

Have you ever stopped to think about how an NGO works? The acronym stands for Non-Governmental Organization—a private, non-profit, and government-independent entity dedicated to social, cultural, environmental, humanitarian, educational, health-related, and other causes.

The Third Sector

An NGO is part of what we call the third sector—organizations that carry out activities for the benefit of society and without the goal of making a profit. This concept originated in the United States and classifies the first sector as the State, and the second sector as private entities with a profit motive.

According to Vera Oliveira, founder and executive director of Instituto C, the second and third sectors have very similar operational structures. “In terms of structure, there isn’t much difference between an NGO and a company. The main difference is what we ‘sell’—in our case, it’s social impact,” she said in an interview published on our blog in May 2022.

In fact, in 2022, Instituto C received the Best NGOs Award for the sixth consecutive time. This award honors the 100 best non-profit organizations in Brazil’s third sector. Since 2017, the annual celebration has become one of the most important in the sector, receiving over 1,000 applications in 2021 alone. Instituto C is part of a select group of seven Brazilian organizations to be featured on the list in every single edition of the award.

How Does an NGO Work?

The operation of an NGO is based on mobilizing financial, human, and material resources to achieve its goals and drive positive change in society. Generally, income comes from donations, sponsorships, and agreements with governments or other institutions.

A key part of any NGO is the volunteer work of people committed to its mission, which helps expand its reach. But beyond that, an NGO also has expenses to cover—such as taxes, salaries, suppliers, and rent.

At Instituto C, for example, there are nearly 30 salaried employees, all officially registered and receiving legally guaranteed benefits. According to data from the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), NGOs in Brazil formally employ around 3 million people.

One of Instituto C’s most important sources of income is the Nota Fiscal Paulista (São Paulo State Invoice Program). When you request your CPF (Individual Taxpayer Registry) on a purchase, the business is required to declare the sale and pay the corresponding tax to the government.

Initially, the program offered significant credit rewards to consumers. Over time, the government revised the parameters, shifting the benefit to support NGOs, reducing the amount received by consumers. Today, donations through Nota Fiscal Paulista account for 16% of Instituto C’s annual revenue.

The Role of NGOs

Independently, NGOs aim to complement government actions and address social needs that are unmet or require additional assistance. Their work spans a wide range of areas, including:

• Social assistance

• Education

• Health

• Environment

• Human rights

• Emergency humanitarian aid

Instituto C – Children, Care, Citizenship

Founded in 2011, Instituto C began by serving families in socially vulnerable situations with children suffering from chronic or severe illnesses. Since then, its projects have expanded to embrace other causes—such as early childhood development, with a focus on prevention and creating environments of care, protection, and stimulation to ensure healthy growth.

In 2021, Instituto C merged its three core projects—PAF, Educação em Rede, and Primeira Infância—into a comprehensive program that provides holistic solutions to the diverse social demands faced by vulnerable families, delivered through Social Service Hubs across São Paulo.

Families in the program are supported by a multidisciplinary team in the fields of psychology, education, nutrition, income generation, and social services, who work together to address needs and prioritize the families’ path to autonomy.

The Importance of NGOs

NGOs are essential change agents, mobilizing resources and efforts for crucial and often overlooked causes. They complement public services, meet specific societal needs, defend rights, and contribute to building a more inclusive, aware, and sustainable society.

“Instituto C delivers social impact—and that product is returned to society. Everyone benefits,” said Vera.