Between June 8 and 13, Infinis Executive Director Márcia Kalvon fulfilled a strategic agenda in Manaus (AM), reinforcing the organization’s commitment to health promotion, rights protection, and strengthening initiatives focused on children, adolescents, and indigenous populations in Amazon territories.

One of the highlights of the visit was the meeting with the team from Podáali – Indigenous Fund of the Brazilian Amazon, an organization supported by Infinis. The meeting focused on the selection process for the 3rd edition of the call Guardians of the Amazon – Indigenous Women Defending Lives and Climate Justice, an initiative that supports projects led by indigenous women in different Amazon territories.

Through the call, Infinis contributes to strengthening initiatives focused on the mental health of indigenous women, children, and adolescents. The objective is to support ongoing or early-stage implementation projects, promoting female leadership, forest protection, climate justice, and the collective rights of indigenous peoples.

In this edition, 204 small and medium-sized projects were submitted and 191 evaluated for the process. In total, 43 initiatives will be supported, totaling an investment of R$ 2,682,082.23. In addition to Infinis, other partner organizations participate in funding the call.

During her time in Manaus, Márcia Kalvon also met with representatives from UNICEF to discuss the pilot project of the Adolescent-Friendly Units (UAA), an initiative developed in partnership with the Ministry of Health to improve care for adolescents aged 10 to 19 in the Unified Health System (SUS).

The program supports municipalities in expanding access to health services and improving care for adolescents. Manaus, Recife, and Rio de Janeiro are among the pilot territories for the initiative. Infinis is one of the supporters of UNICEF Brazil’s Health area.

The UAA proposal is structured around strategic pillars such as mental health, violence prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and promotion of healthy habits. One of the project’s distinguishing features is the active participation of adolescents themselves in developing actions and strategies, ensuring that their needs and perspectives are considered in decision-making processes.

The agenda also included discussions on the prevention and confrontation of violence against children and adolescents, a priority theme for the José Luiz Setúbal Foundation and the focus of the debate at the 8th Public Health Policies Forum for Childhood, scheduled to take place on September 30.

The meetings with partners such as Podáali and UNICEF reflect Infinis’ commitment to strengthening initiatives capable of generating lasting social transformations, especially in historically vulnerable territories. Expanding operations in the Amazon region is part of the organization’s strategic priorities, which seeks to contribute to health promotion, comprehensive protection, and the guarantee of rights for children, adolescents, and their communities.

Learn more about Infinis’ support for the Podáali Fund and UNICEF