The story of this social project began in 2009, when an Italian architect with a strong commitment to social causes, who had played a significant role in the development of the tourist infrastructure of Cape Verde, became aware of the dramatic situation facing the disadvantaged children of Santo Antão. Without hesitation, she decided to give the poorest and most vulnerable members of society — many of whom came from broken families affected by drug addiction and alcoholism — a new home and the opportunity to live a life of dignity.

To this end, in the same year, together with friends and colleagues, she founded a non-profit organization called “Associação Voz da Criança do Porto Novo” – The Voice of the Children of Porto Novo, with the aim of raising donations from friends, acquaintances, and companies to finance the construction of a shelter for children.

Unfortunately, securing the necessary financial resources proved extremely difficult at first, and it was not until 2014 that construction of the children’s shelter could finally begin. Ultimately, the project found its principal sponsor in a Swiss family who became aware of the initiative while on holiday in Santo Antão and decided, entirely out of the goodness of their hearts, to provide the funding needed for its construction.