My Life for Lives Has Been Nominated as Toronto’s Best Nonprofit by the Canadian Choice Awards

We are overjoyed to share one of the most meaningful milestones in the journey of My Life for Lives.
Our organization has been officially nominated as Toronto’s Best Nonprofit by the Canadian Choice Awards, a recognition that celebrates excellence, integrity, and meaningful community impact across Canada.

This nomination is more than an honor — it is a reflection of the heart and purpose behind everything we do.
It represents every family we support, every volunteer who gives their time, every donor who believes in our mission, and every person who has stood with us as we work to transform lives in Brazil.

What This Recognition Means

From the beginning, My Life for Lives was built on compassion, dignity, and the belief that every act of generosity has the power to change someone’s story. Being recognized on a national platform confirms that this mission is not only seen but valued.

This nomination also brings greater visibility to our work — helping us reach more people, expand our impact, and continue building bridges between communities in Canada and families in Brazil.
Most importantly, it affirms that even small initiatives fueled by love and purpose can achieve extraordinary things.

How the Selection Process Works

The Canadian Choice Awards follows a detailed and thoughtful evaluation process:

• A panel of experts reviews all qualified nominees and selects the Top 3 finalists in each category and city.

• Their evaluation considers service quality, community feedback, reputation, achievements, and impact.

• From these finalists, one winner is chosen through a comprehensive review of questionnaires, verified reviews, nominator insights, and each organization’s contribution to its community.

Winners represent the highest standard of excellence and leadership within their category.

What Comes Next

As soon as we receive the official questionnaire, we will complete it and keep our community updated.
Winners are typically announced in January — and until then, we remain hopeful, grateful, and committed to our mission.

Thank You for Being Part of This Journey

This nomination belongs to every person who has supported My Life for Lives.
To our volunteers, donors, partners, and community members: thank you.
Your trust gives our work purpose. Your compassion gives lives hope.

No matter the outcome in January, we celebrate this moment with full hearts.
And we move forward more inspired than ever to serve, uplift, and transform lives — together.

Bringing Water, Bringing Life: The Water Truck Project

For many of us, turning on the tap is something we never think twice about. Clean water flows easily — it’s a daily comfort we often take for granted. But for countless families living in the hills of Sertão, water is a luxury that’s out of reach.

A Harsh Reality in the Hills

The Sertão region is known for its dry and unforgiving landscape. The rocky hills make it impossible to dig wells, leaving communities without natural access to water. The only solution is to have water delivered by trucks — a costly service that most families cannot afford.

With little government support, residents are forced to pay for each delivery out of pocket. But in these impoverished areas, where many struggle just to buy food, paying for water often means going without something else essential.

Turning Compassion Into Action

That’s where the Water Truck Project comes in. Through My Life for Lives, we’re raising funds to ensure that these families receive regular access to clean, safe water — without the burden of impossible costs. Every donation goes directly toward bringing water trucks to the top of those hills, filling tanks, and restoring dignity and hope.

Water Is Life

Something as simple as water changes everything. It means children can go to school instead of walking miles in search of water. It means families can cook, clean, and live with dignity. It means health, safety, and the chance for a better future.

While we live surrounded by abundance, the people of Sertão remind us of how precious — and powerful — water truly is.

Join us in delivering more than water. Help us deliver life.

👉 Donate today and be part of the change.

At My Life for Lives, we believe every act of kindness transforms lives. Through your support, we create opportunities, restore dignity, and empower communities across Brazil’s Sertão.

Sertão Vivo: Hope in Action

This year, we distributed 2,800 school supply kits, giving children not just pencils and notebooks, but hope and opportunity. We also built a new bathroom for Selma’s home, improving health and quality of life for her family and 20 relatives.

Our first Passaporte da Alegria brought joy to 160 children, many experiencing a playground for the first time. And Casa Life in Serra dos Tanicos is now thriving as a hub of community and life.

Memory Workshop: Celebrating Elders

The Memory Workshop keeps seniors engaged and socially connected through cognitive activities and interactive games. More than memory training, it restores self-esteem, friendship, and dignity, proving every stage of life holds meaning.

Youth Connection: Building Futures

Youth Connection supports 15 scholarship students, including six from rural areas, studying Software Engineering online at Jala University. Students receive personal computers, English lessons, and guaranteed employment after graduation — showing how opportunity transforms potential into success.

Annual Gala: One Night, Lasting Impact

Our 2025 Annual Gala raised $37,750 to fuel education, health, food security, and community projects. Every contribution represents hope, dignity, and real change for the Sertão communities we serve.

One night of giving. A lifetime of impact.

Why Monthly Donations Matter: A Lifeline for the Sertão

In the heart of Brazil’s Northeast lies the Sertão, a vast and arid region where resilience is a way of life. But for many families and children, resilience alone is not enough. The struggle against poverty, limited resources, and the harsh climate makes everyday survival an uphill battle.

At My Life for Lives, through Projeto Sertão Vivo, we work relentlessly to change this reality—one person, one family, and one village at a time. But we cannot do it alone. Monthly donations are the key to transforming lives in a sustainable, lasting way.

The Power of Monthly Giving: Stability, Growth, and Hope

One-time donations are always appreciated, but monthly giving is what builds a future. It provides a steady foundation for our work, ensuring we can:

• Provide Ongoing Support – From clean water to essential medical care, your monthly gift helps sustain life-changing initiatives year-round.
• Plan Long-Term Projects – Consistency allows us to expand and invest in sustainable development, rather than offering only short-term aid.
• Empower Local Communities – With continued support, we train and equip individuals to become self-sufficient leaders in their own communities.

Your generosity fuels a movement of lasting change. Even a small amount each month makes a world of difference.

How Your Donations Directly Change Lives

Here’s how Projeto Sertão Vivo is creating a real impact, thanks to the generosity of people like you:

• Educating the Next Generation: Every child deserves the right to learn. In 2024 alone, we distributed over 1,600 school supply kits to children in need, ensuring they have the materials to succeed in school.
• Building a Better Future: Infrastructure is critical. From classrooms to bathrooms, your support helps us construct essential facilities that directly improve daily life.
• Creating Opportunities for Youth: Poverty often forces young people into a cycle of hardship. With our programs, teens gain access to vocational training and mentorship, helping them develop skills for a better future.
• Bringing Food and Resources to Families: Access to nutritious meals and clean water should never be a privilege—it should be a right. Our community-driven programs ensure no family is left behind.

The Difference YOU Can Make

• $10/month provides essential school supplies for a child.
• $25/month helps build infrastructure, from classrooms to community spaces.
• $50/month supports a teen in vocational training, empowering them with skills for a better future.
• $100/month sustains long-term projects that uplift entire villages.

When you commit to monthly giving, you don’t just donate—you become part of something bigger. You become the reason a child can go to school. You become the hope a mother clings to when she finally receives food for her family. You become the heart behind every classroom built, every skill taught, every life changed.

Join Us in Transforming Lives

Imagine waking up knowing that somewhere in the Sertão, a child is smiling because of you. That’s the impact of monthly giving. It’s easy to set up, and every single dollar goes directly to those who need it most.

Be the change. Give monthly. Change lives forever.
Click Here to Become a Monthly Donor

Empowering the Future: How Technology in Action is Changing Lives

By Tina Ziliotto

In a rapidly evolving digital world, access to education and career opportunities can be life-changing. That’s exactly what Technology in Action is doing—breaking barriers and opening doors for young adults who aspire to build a future in technology.

A Vision for Change

Launched in January 2024, Technology in Action is a groundbreaking initiative by Life for Life in partnership with Jala University of California. This program is designed to equip young adults with the skills, training, and employment opportunities needed to succeed in the tech industry. By providing a comprehensive software engineering education, this initiative is transforming lives and creating sustainable career paths.

A Commitment to Education

Education is at the heart of Technology in Action. The program offers a 100% free, four-year online software engineering course, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of learning. Participants receive bilingual instruction in both English and Portuguese, preparing them for a global job market.

To support their journey, each student is provided with a laptop, allowing them to access course materials, complete assignments, and engage in real-world projects. This hands-on learning approach ensures that they are well-equipped with the technical expertise required to thrive in the industry.

Beyond Learning: A Path to Employment

Education alone is not enough—real impact comes when learning translates into meaningful employment. Upon completing the program, graduates are guaranteed a four-year job placement, earning an impressive 12,000 BRL per month. This ensures not only financial stability but also a clear career trajectory in the software engineering field.

To date, 25 young professionals have graduated and secured employment, demonstrating the success of this initiative. Each graduate represents a story of resilience, hard work, and opportunity, proving that with the right support, anyone can achieve their dreams.

The Power of Opportunity

Programs like Technology in Action highlight the importance of investment in education, mentorship, and career development. By removing barriers and providing structured support, we are not just training software engineers—we are shaping the future of an entire generation.

As the program continues to grow, its impact will only expand, creating a ripple effect that empowers more young professionals to build thriving careers in technology. The future is bright, and through initiatives like this, we are ensuring that it is accessible to all.

Sertão Vivo 2024 Recap: Transforming Lives, One Step at a Time

For the past nine years, Projeto Sertão Vivo has been dedicated to improving the lives of families in rural Araripina, Pernambuco. Through unwavering commitment and hard work, the project has made a tangible impact in education, sanitation, housing, and community development. 2024 was another year of remarkable achievements, reinforcing our mission to create sustainable change.

Milestones and Achievements

This year, Sertão Vivo continued its work by implementing critical initiatives that directly benefit the local community. Some of the key accomplishments include:

• Education Support: Over 1,600 school supply kits were distributed to students, ensuring that children have the necessary tools to succeed in their studies.
• Improved Sanitation: The construction of three new bathrooms significantly enhanced hygiene and living conditions for families.
• Expanding Educational Access: Two new classrooms were built in Serra da Rancharia to provide school reinforcement programs, strengthening the quality of education.
• Access to Clean Water: Three cisterns were installed, securing a reliable source of clean drinking water for the community.
• Housing Development: A new home was built, providing a safe and stable environment for a family in need.
• Community Growth: We successfully acquired land for the future Sertão Vivo Community Center, a space designed to empower residents with education, job training, and cultural programs.

A Vision for the Future: The Sertão Vivo Community Center

With the acquisition of land, we are one step closer to building the Sertão Vivo Community Center, a hub for growth, learning, and opportunity. This center will serve as a foundation for long-term development by offering:

• Vocational Training: Courses to equip locals with skills that lead to job opportunities.
• Educational Support: Tutoring and school reinforcement programs to help children excel academically.
• Community Bakery: A social enterprise to create income-generating opportunities for families.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Productive backyard gardens to promote local farming and self-sufficiency.
• Cultural Enrichment: Music and cordel literature classes to preserve and celebrate regional traditions.

Committed to Lasting Impact

The ongoing efforts of Projeto Sertão Vivo showcase the power of collective action and the importance of sustainable development. Every initiative completed this year reflects our dedication to improving lives and empowering communities for generations to come.

As we move forward, we remain committed to expanding our reach, fostering resilience, and creating opportunities where they are needed most. Together, we are building a brighter future for the Sertão!

Canadian NGO Seeks Partnerships and Donations for Community Center in Araripina

The space will be dedicated to residents of the rural area of Araripina, in the Sertão region of Pernambuco, providing a venue for social, educational, and recreational activities.

By g1 Petrolina

To fund the Sertão Vivo project, the Canadian NGO Life for Lives is seeking public-private partnerships and donations. The goal is to build a community center in the rural area of Araripina, offering residents a place to gather for social, educational, and recreational activities.

“Through the center, we will focus on education with tutoring programs. Additionally, we will work on preserving Sertanejo culture, as well as offering professional training for female farmers, youth employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship initiatives,” highlighted the NGO’s president, Dianna Santos.

Donations can be made via Pix using the phone number: (81) 99777-1973.

Life for Lives has been operating for seven years, supporting over 250 families. The NGO is composed of members of the Brazilian community in Toronto, Canada. The Sertão Vivo project includes a team of 30 permanent volunteers providing services in education, psychology, and dentistry.

To read the article in Portuguese, please visit the link https://g1.globo.com/pe/petrolina-regiao/noticia/2023/03/30/ong-canadense-busca-parcerias-e-doacoes-para-construcao-de-centro-comunitario-em-araripina.ghtml

Project Brings Hope to Communities in the Sertão of Pernambuco

By robsonouropreto

Sertão Vivo is a project created by the Canadian NGO Life for Lives, which has been working for seven years in communities in the city of Araripina, in the Sertão region of Pernambuco.

Formed by members of the Brazilian community in Toronto, Canada, the NGO structured the project with the help of volunteers. Through events and fundraising initiatives, they raise funds to provide school supplies, build schools, and distribute food to rural communities in Araripina.

According to Dianna Santos, a native of Pernambuco and president of Life for Lives, the project aims to bring dignity and hope to people living in extreme vulnerability in the region.

“Our goal is to provide a minimum level of dignity so that these people feel they are not forgotten and that someone cares about them, even from afar,” emphasized Dianna.

She also stated that Sertão Vivo is structured sustainably, and the plan is to establish public-private partnerships to ensure the project continues helping families.

“Over these seven years, we have witnessed transformative changes in the lives of these people. Knowing that our actions directly or indirectly impact their lives is incredibly rewarding because doing good is transformative and inspiring. We are born to serve others—this is our mission, and we cannot let this dream die because we must never stop dreaming of a better and fairer world,” she added.

As community needs have grown, so have the demands. To address this, a Community Center is being built as a model reference for the state of Pernambuco. This space will serve as a hub where citizens can access information, gather for social and educational events, and participate in recreational activities.

Sertão Vivo has a team of 30 permanent volunteers providing services in education, psychology, and dentistry. Over the past seven years, the initiative has already supported more than 250 families.

To read the news in Portuguese, click on the link https://penews.com.br/projeto-leva-esperanca-para-comunidades-do-sertao-de-pernambuco/

Sertão Vivo: Bringing Hope to Araripina’s Communities

by Revista algomais

Sertão Vivo is a project created by the Canadian NGO Life for Lives, which has been working in communities in the city of Araripina, in Brazil’s Sertão region, for the past seven years. Formed by members of the Brazilian community in Toronto, Canada, the NGO has structured the project with the help of volunteers and through fundraising events and initiatives. The funds collected are used to purchase school supplies, build schools, and provide food for rural communities in Araripina.

According to Dianna Santos, a native of Pernambuco and president of Life for Lives, the project aims to bring dignity and hope to people living in extreme vulnerability. “Our goal is to provide a minimum level of dignity so that these people feel they are not forgotten and that someone cares about them, even from afar,” Dianna emphasized.

She also highlighted that Sertão Vivo is structured to be sustainable, and the plan is to establish public-private partnerships to ensure the project continues helping families. “Over these seven years, we have witnessed transformative changes in the lives of these people. Knowing that our actions directly or indirectly impact their lives is incredibly rewarding because doing good is transformative and inspiring. We are born to serve others—this is our mission, and we cannot let this dream die because we must never stop dreaming of a better and fairer world,” she added.

As the needs of the community have increased, so have the demands. To address this, a Community Center is being built as a model reference for the state of Pernambuco. This space will serve as a hub where citizens can access information, gather for social and educational events, and participate in recreational activities.

Sertão Vivo has a team of 30 permanent volunteers providing services in education, psychology, and dentistry. Over the past seven years, the initiative has already supported more than 250 families.

Read the article in Portuguese at https://algomais.com/sertao-vivo-leva-esperanca/

5th Edition of the Sertão Vivo Fundraiser 2022

 

YOU ARE INVITED TO EMBRACE THIS CAUSE!

COME HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS NOBLE PROJECT OF BRINGING SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO THE CHILDREN LIVING IN EXTREME POVERTY IN THE NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL.

NOV 5TH | DOORS OPEN AT 6PM

PEARSON CONVENTION CENTER

2638 STEELS AVE E. BRAMPTON. ON . L6T4L7

DRESS CODE: BLACK TIE

*EMAIL: jennifer@mylifeforlives.org OR Text (365) 886-1525 to purchase your ticket!*

ADMISSION FOR ONE ADULT – 150$

CHILDREN UNDER UNDER 12: 50$

INCLUDES: COCKTAIL, 3 COURSE MEAL & OPEN BAR.

*LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE*