50 Jahre Stiftung Kinder in Brasilien

In the 1970s, the Basel photographer Onorio Mansutti traveled repeatedly to Rio de Janeiro with models and crew to photograph swimwear for mail-order catalogs. Alongside the beauty of the city, he also noticed the poverty there; he saw, for example, children rummaging through garbage bins to find food scraps. Horrified, he decided to take action. Thus, on March 14, 1974, in a churrascaria in the Ipanema neighborhood, the idea for the foundation "Children in Brazil" (Kib) was born – fifty years ago.

Since then, it has grown into a significant charity that has supported 30,000 children and financed their education.

Later, Monica von Senger joined the project, introducing a sponsorship program that enabled promising students to pursue vocational training or university studies. For instance, Marcelo de Almeida became a flight captain, João Bastos a renowned flutist, Simone da Conceição Silva an anthropologist, and Késia Estácio a television star. There are countless other examples like these.

This edition honors the life’s work of Onorio Mansutti, who helped make such careers possible. The funds for the foundation come, among other sources, from an annual auction of artworks in Basel, which has now become a cultural event. Artists of the caliber of Jean Tinguely donate works, the proceeds of which benefit children in Brazil. The auction at the music club Atlantis has become an institution in Basel, just like the annual Basel Klosterberg Festival, where thousands of visitors celebrate for three days and nights to the sounds of samba, enjoying food and drink. The proceeds from the festival also go to the foundation.

Over the years, many people have supported Children in Brazil, including many well-known personalities. These include footballer Pelé, former Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, and rock star Peter Maffay.