ELAS Fundo del Investimento Social is a social investment fund exclusively focused on the promotion of women’s initiatives. We believe that by investing in women  a rapid development of the country will occur. When investing in women, the lives of their children and of the people around them is transformed, generating direct results in communities, cities, states and, finally, in the whole of Brazil. IWHC has supported ELAS since 2010.

“We believe that investing in women is the fastest way toward a country’s development. When investing in them, the lives of their children and the people around them are transformed, generating direct results in communities, cities, states and, finally, in the whole of Brazil.” – Madalena Guilhon, general coordinator of ELAS

“With the support of ELAS, I managed to break through the cycle of exploitation and misery that I was stuck in and my children probably would have faced as the following victims. I want to better myself continually and to keep on studying doing a degree.” - Sandra, participant of the project Mão na Massa  (Hand in the Mass) which is supported by ELAS

• XII Call For Proposals – Black Women in the Northeast: ELAS is launching the 12th Call for Proposals, focusing on initiatives of black women’s groups from the Northeast of Brazil. The project’s objective is to promote human rights and citizenship, institutional strengthening, improvement of socio-economic conditions and the implementation of laws which will benefit these women. In total, US$160,000 will be donated.
• Angelita Fashion Campaign 2009: The Angelita Fashion Campaign brings together important names from the Brazilian art scene and promotion of social investment in women and girls. Various artists participated in the campaign by converting the Angelita character – originally a piggy bank for donations - into works of art. The character represents diversity in Brazilian women and thus every Angelita is exclusive and unique just like every woman. The ‘piglets’ are currently on exhibition in Siqueira Campos Subway Station and will continue to make their way around Rio de Janeiro in exhibitions to show the importance of social investment in women and girls and their significance in social transformations.
• XI Call For Proposals – Human Rights and Citizenship for Young Women: The XI Call for Proposals organized by ELAS took place in September 2009. This edition was directed at groups and organizations of young women and focused on human rights and citizenship. Seven groups from different regions of Brazil were selected.This contest donated in total US$ 130.000 to the groups through a partnership between ELAS – Social Investment Fund, Fundo Alquimia, and Fundo de Mulheres do Sul with support from UNIFEM.
  

Impact

• Acting since 2001, ELAS – Social Investment Fund has already reached some important figures: 207 supported groups of women and girls and R$ 1,266,265.35 donated directly through calls for proposals.
• 11 Calls for Proposals have taken place and a total of 1,426 proposals were received. From these, 171 were selected for funding and an extra 16 were funded due to emergency requests outside the contests.
• ELAS has supported more than 25,000 women and girls directly and more than 100,000 people indirectly.
  

  To learn more about ELAS visit their website (in Portuguese).

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