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BRF Institute Volunteers Build Sensory Garden for the Inclusion of Children and Teachers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at a Public School in Videira (SC)

Created with the support of a specialized team and 55 volunteers from BRF’s unit in the city, the space promotes well-being, learning, and emotional regulation

More than 50 volunteers from the BRF Institute in Videira (SC) came together to build a sensory garden at the Gabriel Bogoni Municipal Basic Education School. The space, collaboratively developed between the BRF Videira Social Impact Committee and the school’s teaching staff, promotes learning and emotional regulation through a planned, safe, and welcoming environment for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder — currently, the school serves eleven students and has two teachers diagnosed with ASD.

The initiative originated from the school’s administration, led by Endy Lucy Müller. The process began in February this year and was divided into phases: active listening with the school community (teachers, students, and families), project development, presentation to the BRF Social Impact Committee, approval, and finally, construction and inauguration of the garden. The entire process took less than two months. The new space thus emerges as a direct response to the community’s demand for an accessible, therapeutic, and educational environment that assists both in moments of sensory crisis and in learning development.

The garden provides stimuli through textures, aromas, sounds, and visual elements that aid in the development of sensory perception, as well as promote relaxation, focus, and emotional regulation. In this way, it contributes to anxiety control, sensory overload management, and improvement in the teaching and learning process — situations frequently encountered in school environments.

The construction of the space was made possible with funds from the BRF Institute allocated to the annual “Education for the Future” campaign and donations made by volunteers. The work was carried out in an existing area of the school, and in addition to the volunteers, involved the maintenance team from BRF’s production unit in the city, which was responsible for producing all the garden’s equipment and furniture.

“Each person brought a piece of themselves to this garden: time, creativity, strength, care, and attentive listening. Together, we designed and built a space entirely conceived to be accessible, therapeutic, and educational, reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and transforming the reality in which we operate,” emphasizes Silvana Pirolli, a member of the BRF Social Impact Committee in Videira.

The BRF Institute, the organization responsible for enhancing BRF’s private social investment, has mobilized more than 40,000 volunteers over 13 years, directly impacting more than 3.6 million people. “Our commitment to communities is ongoing and is reflected in every action we take. The sensory garden is a clear example of how we can transform spaces and lives through collaboration and social engagement, encouraging corporate volunteering,” says Raquel Ogando, president of the BRF Institute.

BRF’s Operation in Videira: Inaugurated in 1934, the production unit is considered the birthplace of Perdigão. With a built area of over 100,000 m² and two manufacturing parks, it currently employs around 3,800 workers. The unit maintains a comprehensive agricultural integration system involving about 12 municipalities in the region. The Videira slaughterhouse processes over 320,000 poultry daily, with more than 90% of the volume destined for the foreign market.

About the BRF Institute

The BRF Institute is the social arm of BRF, one of the world’s largest food companies, dedicated to promoting sustainable development in the communities where the company operates. Created to generate positive impact in areas such as education, employment generation, food security, and local development, the BRF Institute focuses on social inclusion and professional training. Since 2012, it has stood out for implementing projects aimed at education, combating food insecurity, and fostering sustainable communities.