Projeto Quixote was initiated in 1996 within the PROAD (Program for the Care of Addicts) of the Department of Psychiatry at the Federal University of São Paulo. It came into existence when the founders met social educators working with street children in the vicinity of CEAGESP and were asked to supervise activities related to the use of crack by these children. The experience revealed the need for a service tailored to the needs of the children, with a focus on art, education, and health.
The project has grown and operates on two main fronts: service and training/research.
In the service front, artistic workshops and clinical and social support are provided through programs such as:
- Family Care Program;
- Clinical and Psychosocial Program;
- Work Education Program;
- Pedagogical Program;
- Urban Refugees.
On the training and research front, the project offers courses, supervision, and seminars for educators and managers throughout Brazil. It publishes books and conducts research to inform public policies for vulnerable children, adolescents, and families. The project believes that shared knowledge is the best form of learning, given the nature of interactions in workshops, family care, and team exchanges.
