While we are a secular, non religious organization, the very name Ismael has biblical roots as well as being a synonym for outcast because many of the children who have come to us are just that: unwanted, uncared for and unloved. In its original Hebrew, Ismael can be literally translated as God hears. We hope this is so.

We don’t use the word orphanage because of its negative connotations of callous institutional care. In every way possible, we try to provide a true home for these children because, in many ways, these young innocents exist between two dark clouds, the remembrance of their earlier neglect and the uncertainty of their tomorrow. Over the years, our method of caring for and nurturing the children has proven to be successful.

Each year, thousands of babies, toddlers, children and adolescents are orphaned, abandoned or, because of various circumstances, forced onto the streets to fend for themselves. Without a haven like Ismael’s Home, these desperate and needy innocents face a bleak future and the world becomes a lesser place for the loss of their marvelous human potential.

Since the beginning, Ismael’s House has cared for over 130 babies, toddlers, children and adolescents who were placed in our care by various state and local governmental social service agencies. Most of the children placed with us were either orphaned or came from broken homes. Some are with us for only a few months while others have been with us for years.

Some children have been adopted by Brazilian families, and almost twenty by families outside Brazil. Unfortunately, babies and toddlers have the best chance of being adopted. As elsewhere in the world, older children are less adoptable. Over the years, we have welcomed ten adolescents into our home and helped many of them to become responsible adults with jobs and a real future. Other teens continue to live with us.

We desperately need monetary contributions from both individuals and business organizations that have compassion and share our ideal and the belief that there can be a better future for these children.

But these long range goals can only be achieved with the continued and assured financial support and collaboration of caring and compassionate people who, like us, believe that these innocents deserve a real chance at life.