A nearly closed community center is transformed into a model institution

South American Theological Seminary (SATS), Brazil

After graduating from the Master’s program at the South American Theological Seminary (SATS) in Brazil, Rosanne Firori became the Director of a professional training center called CEPAS for children and young people of needy families. The center was almost closed with smashed out windows and buildings in bad shape before Rosanne took over. Since then, her husband has renovated the buildings, and the city of Londrina has approved eight proposals for computers and other equipment needed to run the center. She convinced several organizations, such as Kraft Foods, to donate food and other items for the center. In addition, several SATS’ students volunteer as part of their practical ministry assignments.

Currently, CEPAS has 300 students enrolled with at least 100 students on the waiting list. Computer, cooking and art classes are offered at the after school center among other activities. Rosanne is also in the process of starting a group therapy class to include community life skills in order to help the children’s parents, many of whom are alcoholic and unemployed.

Dr. Marcos Orison, Executive Director of SATS, says Rosanne is one of the most prolific students he has seen. Under her leadership, the center has become a model institution. She has trained students from another OC partner school, the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Lubango (ETSL) in Angola, and was recently invited to coordinate a pilot project for the city’s Department of Social Work to research the needs of approximately 100,000 families in poor neighborhoods.