History

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, the city of Campinas experienced a large influx of migrants in search of employment in the city’s growing economy. These migrants settled into a number of low-income settlements around the city, including Villa Independência (today Villa September 7). 

It was in this settlement in 1992, that Centro Promocional Tia Ileidie (CPTI) emerged as a community driven initiative.  A young resident Tia Ileide (Aunt Ileide), along with Mrs. Sylvia Leeven and the support of the community came together to focus on the unmet needs of working families.

The first building - the nursery (creche) - was built with the support of the local residents and financial support from Bosch Germany. What started off as a simple one-room daycare facility for children between the ages of three and six, soon developed into a fully functional school supporting social and educational initiatives to a wider group of children. In 1992, it expanded into a multi-functional resource center, providing support to children, adolescents and families in the District of Nova Aparecida in Campinas.

In Independence Village, residents lived without basic resources such as water, telephone, electricity and transportation.  They had no access to consumer goods, adequate housing and employment opportunities - residents faced severe difficulties.

The initial focus of CPTI was to provide care and food for infants and children in the neighborhood, allowing mothers the opportunity to have access to employment .

 
They are part of this history:

	"The importance of my time at CPTI was getting to know classical Ballet,  becouse with it I learned to cherish life, work as a team and mainly think about having a prosperous future by following this career.  I also learned to  define wrong from right on difficult situations that life gives us. I thank very much God first and all from CPTI that helped me and gave me strenght".
Jonathan Rodrigues - Ex-adolescent friom CPTI and currently at CIA de Dança de Campinas (Campinas' Dance Company).

	"It was at CPTI that I firmed my professional basis. With mentors commited to help youngsters to raise their personal and professional life pattern, this place offered me numerous opportunities to grow and develop talents and skills unttaped before. To CPTI my eternal gratitude for the path that helped me to going through and for the shine that has put in my star."
Erik Augusto Capuli - 17 years - Ex-adolescent at CPTI and  currently at EMDEC.