Auro Lescher, director of Quixote Project

In 1995 Auro Lescher founded the Quixote Project, a Brazilian NGO based in Sao Paolo that he still works for today as ?general coordinator?.

When and how did you first become interested in the third sector?
In 1992, in the context of a great reform in the psychiatric attendance to patients in Santos, a port city 500 a thousand inhabitants, located at the State of São Paulo. Together with a group of actors, people of the community and former-interns from a psychiatric asylum I helped to set up a theater group that performed and participated in city events. The group was called ?Biruta de Artes Cências? . It was an intense and fascinating experience, because it gave me a chance to analyze the politics of mental health and because it was a real ?human? experience.

What are the main challenges for Brazilian civil society today?
The main challenges for civil society in Brazil and the rest of the world lie in the need to change our collective culture, to become more aware and to transform old paradigms. I do not believe that these changes mean great ruptures, but certainly a reconfiguration of society. Issues of sustainability are of huge importance to us at the beginning of the millennium. The notion of belonging to the same planet, to a great collective humanity and the responsible, creative and intelligent forms of handling of our resources are our main challenge.

How do you think the third sector will cope with these challenges?
The third sector is like the first violin in a symphonic orchestra: it gives the tone of the musical part that will be executed. It coagulates, it synthecizes, it creates knowledge and propensities.

What lessons do you think we can learn in Europe from the Brazilian third sector?
I think that the many demands that the Brazilian third sector has had to face – social, health and education demands ? has meant that there are a plethora of practical solutions that can, and should, ser ve as inspiration for good practises in Europe. For example, I believe that European cities that today face dramatic situations with their youth have much to learn from our experience here in Brazil that has grown and become consolidated over the past decade.

Can you suggest any interesting websites for our readers?

• The Abrinq Foundation website (www.fundabrinq.org.br ) has good information about children and also the version in English is available. The website of Ashoka has the iniciatives at the non profit sector (www.ashoka.org/). I also suggest you take a look at Brazilink website www.brazilink.org which has good news about Brazil. And for last, the website of Brazil Foundation (www.brazilfoundation.org) which also allows donations to projects in Brazil, including Quixote Project.
• There are some other interesting websites in Portuguese such as www.andi.org.br/ , with news about he children rights , www.cecria.org.br/home/home.asp (a centre o reference with studies and actions about children and eenagers) and the website www.setor3.com.br , with information about non profit sector in Brazil.
• The website of Quixote Project (www.projetoquixote.org.br) has many interesting information about our actions and methodologies. The version in English is already available.