Instituto MBRF announces the final phase of the +Together for the South campaign

The new stage of the support project for people affected by the floods in Rio Grande do Sul includes the reconstruction of schools, climate contingency plans in the Taquari Valley, and training for women to work in civil construction in high-risk areas

Instituto MBRF, the organization responsible for coordinating MBRF’s social-impact investments and projects—MBRF is one of the world’s largest food companies—announces, at an event held in Porto Alegre (RS), the final phase of the +Together for the South campaign, an initiative to support communities affected by the 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul. This new stage marks the use of about 90% of the funds raised throughout the mobilization, which totaled a R$ 6 million fund, and is focused on reconstruction, climate resilience, and social strengthening in the Taquari Valley. The new actions include rebuilding three public schools in the region, which was severely impacted by the floods, developing and delivering contingency plans for climate emergencies in nine municipalities, and training around 100 women in situations of vulnerability to work in civil construction in high-risk areas.

With the goal of ensuring safe and suitable environments for the resumption of educational and community activities, resources will be invested (through the relevant departments….) in the reconstruction of three public schools in the Taquari Valley—Castelo Branco State School, Guararapes State High School, and Itaipava Ramos State Elementary School. Construction is set to begin in the first quarter of 2026.

The climate contingency plans will cover the municipalities of Lajeado, where MBRF has a production facility, Arroio do Meio, Bom Retiro do Sul, Cruzeiro do Sul, Encantado, Estrela, Roca Sales, Colinas, and Muçum, and aim to strengthen public administrations’ response capacity to extreme weather events through technical assessments and action protocols. With completion expected in November, the strategy will be developed in partnership with the University of the Taquari Valley (Univates) and with experts affiliated with the United Nations (UN).

Meanwhile, the civil construction training for women will be aimed at residents of areas with flood potential in the Taquari Valley who are in situations of social vulnerability. Carried out in partnership with Instituto Mulher em Construção, the training focuses on basic home repairs, enabling participants to work both in their own homes and in the communities where they live, providing small repair services and support for reconstruction in emergency situations. The course will last approximately three months and promotes autonomy, income generation, and the strengthening of women’s role within their communities. Classes are scheduled to begin in March of this year.

More than 100,000 people supported in Rio Grande do Sul

Since May 2024, the +Together for the South campaign has already directly impacted more than 100,000 people, establishing itself as the largest humanitarian operation ever carried out by Instituto MBRF.

The campaign’s first phase began in May 2024, focusing on emergency response. During this period, more than 700,000 meals were distributed, along with 2.3 tons of non-perishable food, 14,000 liters of water, 10,000 hygiene items, and 6,000 bedding and bath kits, as well as the creation of a R$ 6 million fund—resulting from a fundraising campaign in which MBRF tripled every real donated by the public with a direct contribution from the company.

The second phase, launched in July 2024, focused on helping communities resume daily life, with the distribution of furniture and household appliances to more than 700 families, renovations in schools, volunteer task forces, and the provision of psychological support to families affected by the extreme weather event.

The third stage of the initiative, launched in February 2025, focused on regional social and economic development. Instituto MBRF established partnerships with Civil Society Organizations, with Emater/RS, and with Univates, providing technical support to rural producers, community kitchens, and training in good food-handling practices and climate resilience, in addition to strengthening the Rio Grande do Sul Food Bank. In this phase alone, the number of meals delivered surpassed one million.

“Our commitment is ongoing. Since the beginning of the campaign, we have worked consistently to support the reconstruction of communities, always focusing on solutions with social impact and long-term results. We believe in the power of partnerships, which were essential at every stage of this work. We will continue to contribute effectively to the recovery and development of the regions affected, because we understand that this is a lasting commitment,” says Raquel Ogando, President of Instituto MBRF.

About Instituto MBRF
Instituto MBRF is the organization responsible for coordinating MBRF’s social investments and projects. MBRF is one of the world’s largest food companies and the owner of the brands Sadia, Sadia Bassi, Perdigão, Perdigão Montana, and Qualy. With the purpose of promoting fairer and more sustainable communities, the Institute acts as an accelerator of positive social impact, advancing initiatives in the areas of food and education, as well as managing the MBRF Volunteer Program. Over nearly 14 years of work, it has already impacted the lives of more than 3.6 million people, mobilized 40,000 volunteers, and carried out more than 3,400 social initiatives in 70 Brazilian cities.