Institute Acaia is a non-profit entity dedicated to education. Today the Institute has three projects which provide social and educational facilities. They are funded by donations, covenants and an endowment fund to ensure its future. 

The history of Instituto Acaia began in 1997, when Elisa Bracher started inviting children from a nearby favela to her sculpture studio. The activities grew and started to involve cookery, capoeira and music for the children. Embroidery was introduced as an evening activity for the mothers. In the year 2000 the activities started to take place in the daytime, but still during the hours when formal schooling was over.

Instituto Acaia was formally established on April 3, 2001, with Fernão Bracher as its first president. In 2005 the Institute purchased a shack in the “Nove” favela. Closer relationships were established with the children and their families enabling a better understanding of the social and domestic problems that influenced schooling, as well as steps to mitigate them. 

In 2016 Instituto Acaia set up its endowment fund with donations from Sonia and Fernão Bracher, their children and other friends. Only the interest is withdrawn from the fund, which ensures the long-term future of the projects. Monthly, annual and one-off donations and covenants provide the balance of the budget. We believe that with the help of new donors we will be able to increase the endowment fund in the years ahead, to ensure the sustainable growth of the Acaia projects. At the same time, donations and covenants will continue to be important for the Institute.

A board of directors chaired by Fernão Bracher was set up to manage the fund and supervise the Institute’s projects. After acting as president of Instituto Acaia for 18 years, Fernão Bracher died in February 2019. As one of the board members, Fernando Reinach was asked to replace him as president.

President
Fernando Reinach

Administrative Council
Beatriz Sawaya Botelho Bracher
Candido Botelho Bracher
Eduardo Mazzilli de Vassimon
Elisa Sawaya Botelho Bracher
Fernando de Castro Reinach

Fiscal Council Members
José Irineu Nunes Braga
Mario Luiz Amabile
Marcio Akira Kashihara

Audit
Price Waterhouse Coopers