From August 2 to 7, Infinis and the Pensi Institute, through the Laboratory of Health Anthropology and Community Engagement, conducted a field visit to Santa Luzia do Itanhy, in southern Sergipe. Supported by the partner organization The Human Project (THP), the agenda aimed to deepen knowledge regarding the child and adolescent health situation in the municipality, while strengthening engagement with local actors involved in guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents.

Throughout the week, the team visited different communities and public facilities in the municipality and engaged in dialogue with representatives from the Education, Health, and Social Assistance sectors and the Guardianship Council. The program also included visits to Casa Lar, health units, and the villages of Pedra Furada, Botequim, Areia Branca, and Crasto, as well as a stop in Estância, a neighboring municipality.

Immersion in the territory allowed for a closer examination of the living conditions of children, adolescents, and families, as well as an understanding of the challenges, resources, and opportunities within the local social protection network. Dialogues with public service professionals and community visits contributed to building a broader, integrated perspective on the various dimensions influencing child and adolescent health and development.

A partnership built within the territory

The visit continues a trajectory of action initiated in 2023, when Infinis began supporting CRIA, a Social Technology focused on promoting conditions for full and healthy development during motherhood and early childhood, particularly in small and remote communities.

Developed in the village of Pedra Furada, in Santa Luzia do Itanhy (SE), CRIA operates in a territory characterized by high socioeconomic vulnerability. Since 2025, the Pensi Institute has also collaborated with the initiative’s team, conducting research on community engagement approaches and methodologies to promote child and adolescent health.

During the visit, the team monitored a CRIA replication activity in Pedra Furada, providing a significant opportunity to observe the Social Technology in action and deepen the understanding of its relationship with the community and local networks.

The joint action between Infinis and the Pensi Institute, within the scope of the José Luiz Setúbal Foundation group, reinforces an approach that combines various forms of support for complex social initiatives: grant-based investment, technical support, and knowledge production derived from applied research.

Listening and coordination for the next steps

Beyond a mere schedule of visits, the week in Santa Luzia do Itanhy represented an exercise in listening and territorial engagement. Direct contact with public managers, service network professionals, leaders, and communities helped identify challenges and potential, while clarifying how various policies and initiatives coordinate to promote and protect the rights of children and adolescents.

The insights gathered during the visit will inform the analysis of the child and adolescent health situation in the municipality and contribute to the partnership’s next steps. This experience also reinforces the importance of developing territory-based solutions, connecting technical and scientific knowledge with the experiences, capacities, and needs of local communities.