In videocast, FNO and OSID celebrate partnership between Norberto Odebrecht and Saint Dulce

Two renowned Third Sector institutions from Bahia have come together to revisit a friendship that spanned decades and left a deep mark on the social landscape of Bahia and Brazil. On the 24th, the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation released a special videocast featuring the Social Works of Sister Dulce , honoring the partnership between their founders: Norberto Odebrecht and Saint Dulce of the Poor.

Recorded in Salvador (BA), the program brought together Maria Rita Pontes, OSID’s superintendent and niece of the religious figure, and Norberto Odebrecht Neto, member of the Foundantion’s Board of Trustees and grandson of the businessman. The conversation, moderated by Cristiane Nascimento, the Foundation’s director, offered reflections on family, purpose, and social impact, interwoven with memories of two friends who inspired each other to serve those most in need. “A businessman and a religious woman, who crossed paths in simplicity,” said Maria Rita.

Norberto and Sister Dulce met as young adults in the 1940s in Salvador. He would become one of the country’s greatest entrepreneurs and philanthropists; she, the first Brazilian Saint canonized by the Vatican. Their meeting marked the beginning of a lasting partnership: Norberto helped make possible the Workers’ Circle of Bahia, the seed of OSID, and the realization of the Santo Antônio Hospital, the nun’s greatest dream. At the same time, Dulce’s kindness and determination inspired Norberto’s philanthropic awakening. “My grandfather used to say Sister Dulce was his professional mother. That shows how much she influenced his journey,” mentioned the Foundation’s Trustee.

Though they came from different worlds, Cristiane Nascimento reflected on how both shared the same desire: “to transform Bahia’s social reality and improve the living conditions of the poorest.” The value of service was a central theme throughout the videocast, forming a strong bond between the two institutions that now bear their names.

On one side, OSID has been offering health, education, and social assistance to millions of Brazilians for 66 years. On the other, the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation, celebrating 60 years of activity this year, has impacted nearly 700,000 lives in rural areas through its social program PDCIS, strengthening family farming, fighting poverty, and promoting sustainable development.

In different ways, both institutions reaffirm their daily commitment to human dignity. “We share many values, but above all, the commitment to serve those most in need. That’s what unites our institutions and makes us so alike,” added Maria Rita.

In the videocast, OSID’s leader highlighted the value of service as a family heritage. “The way my aunt welcomed people taught me lessons that help me a lot in my work today,” she said. Norberto Neto also shared the fundamental role his grandfather played in his formation: “He used to tell stories and convey messages about trust and teamwork. That still resonates with me until this day” he commented.

In closing, both emphasized the duty to keep these legacies alive. “It’s an honor, sometimes a great challenge. But when we’re guided by values, everything becomes easier,” said Maria Rita. For Norberto Neto, his grandfather’s greatest concern in his final years was passing on this culture to new generations: “Service is more than a value; it’s the reason for our existence. And this spirit is even more genuine in the Foundation, where we faithfully follow the mission of bringing opportunities to the youth who need it most.”

The videocast is available on the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation’s YouTube channel and can be accessed by clicking here. This initiative is part of the institution’s 60th anniversary campaign, themed “Serving is our story,” with a dedicated website: fundacaonorbertoodebrecht.com/60anos.