Hi friends,

I (Daniella) teach extracurricular activities for kids in my favela community (Tabajaras) in Rio de Janeiro. One of my students, Thaiselly (13 years old now), was suddenly orphaned in 2024. She lost both of her parents within three months of each other. Despite this tragedy, she keeps showing up to my classes—quiet, brave, and hopeful.

Thaiselly's aunt Eliene, who is a single, disabled mom, took her in without hesitation after she lost her parents. Eliene was doing her best in an overcrowded fragile home (see photos below). The house had one room for Eliene and the 4 children that she cares for. It leaked significantly when it rained, which created serious mold problems and made it difficult for the kids to sleep because they all slept on the floor.

I (Daniella) felt very strongly that the situation was unsustainable and dangerous for the family, so I offered to help Eliene by raising funds to rebuild and expand the house (restore existing first floor and add a second floor with bedrooms) and she accepted.

The purpose of this fundraising campaign to rebuild and expand Eliene's home. The construction began in March 2026. The first phase is to install foundations for the house and renovate the existing first floor. The second phase will be to install a second floor with bedrooms upstairs. I (Daniella) am overseeing the project with Eliene and the contractor, and I’m posting step-by-step photo updates on Instagram as work progresses. Thaiselly, Eliene and the other children in the family are staying in temporary housing nearby.

How funds are being used

You can follow the progress on Instagram: www.instagram.com/projecttay123/

Thank you for helping give this kind, determined girl a safe place to call home!

With gratitude,

Daniella Woolfe — community teacher, Rio de Janeiro

Christina Ramos — fundraising coordinator