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Rita de Cássia
Ramos Cordeiro
(photo) says in
this interview
that the
foundation of
the Institute
was inspired by
other projects
in the city of
Itu, where she
lives. The
organization is
supported by a
cohesive team,
dedicated to the
dissemination of
Spiritism and
support of other
charities in the
city.
What is the
Institute Chico
Xavier?
It is a
non-profit
organization
created with the
aim of
supporting the
dissemination of
Spiritist books,
of making them
available in
book fairs, all
sorts of events
and also to
publishing
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houses. All the
profit goes to
support other
charities. |
When was it
created and
how?
In September
2010. But it was
an old project,
a dream of many
years. It was
created by a
group of friends
who have been
working with
Spiritist books
for more than
ten years,
through the
Spiritist Book
Club and several
book fairs. They
realized that
making Spiritist
literature
available was a
key element in
the
dissemination of
the doctrine and
decided to
create the
Institute.
Where is it
based?
The provisional
office is in the
Jardim Oliveira
area of Itu.
How many people
are involved in
the project? How
closely do you
work with each
other?
We are about 60
people,
including all
volunteers. We
work very
closely
together, in a
good team
spirit. Most of
the people had
been working
together for
many years and
they decided to
get together for
that project
too.
Apart from the
dissemination of
the Doctrine,
what are your
other
activities?
Our main task is
indeed to spread
the knowledge
and access to
Spiritist books,
through our
websites
www.institutochicoxavier.com
and the blog
www.institutochicoxavier/blog.
We also help two
organizations
and help to
publicize the
wonderful
charity work
they do, getting
in touch with
the local paper
and spreading
the information
via email and
other means. We
also work
together with
them in the
organization of
events.
What is they
main challenge
you face?
Our biggest
challenge is to
get recognition
in the city for
the work we do.
Many local
organizations
carry out a very
dignifying work
with deprived
populations and
yet their work
goes ignored. In
December 2010,
we made a public
relations effort
with those
institutions,
which led to
donations from
many companies
and the
participation of
a great number
of volunteers in
a big Christmas
time aid
campaign. But it
is important to
make this a
regular
practice.
What are the
main tools you
have to spread
the Spiritist
message in the
city of Itu?
Apart from the
book clubs kept
by some
institutions, we
get the support
from a regional
organization,
ISE, that
organizes
lectures and
seminars
throughout the
year and brings
Spiritist
speakers to Itu.
They also
sponsor a
Spiritist radio
programme,
called Amigos
da Verdade
(Friends of the
Truth),
which is
broadcast by
Radio Convenção
in Itu on
Fridays, 20h00
to 22h00. We
also publish
articles on
Spiritism every
week on the
city´s
newspaper.
What are you
plans for the
future?
We aim to create
our Spiritist
Book Club this
year and to take
part in other
book fairs. We
are also trying
to invite other
organizations to
work in
partnership with
the Instituto
Chico Xavier,
helping them
with our
expertise in
public relations
and our contacts
with local
companies and
volunteers.
What else would
you like to add?
We have realized
along the years
that the
Spiritist
Doctrine is no
longer the
object of much
prejudice. The
Spiritist book
is a very
efficient way of
spreading the
teachings of the
Doctrine. It
takes a number
of books, of
many different
styles, to the
reader. Those
books provide
valuable
knowledge and
offer solace,
which makes our
work easier. But
we also
understand now
that we don´t
achieve anything
by ourselves.
All the work we
carry out relies
on the
collaboration of
volunteers,
people who
provide valuable
assistance
regardless of
their religious
beliefs. That
partnership is
crucial for the
success of our
job, and we must
thank the
Spiritual World
for putting on
our paths those
brave and
valuable
friends, without
whom we wouldn´t
be able to
achieve
anything.
