Peniel was established in March of 2006, in the city of Pombos, Pernambuco. Peniel is a philanthropic institution without profitable ends that began due to the great amount of idle children on the streets and the lack of educational programs for children and adolescents.

        Peniel´s main target is reaching families with a low family income and in a situation of risk, almost 100% of the children´s family don´t have a formal job, and receive some type of financial help from the government.

        It came to our knowledge that a great number of the children´s families were incomplete. Some without a father or mother and for different reasons, death, divorce or abandonment also because of alcohol abuse or illiteracy.

        Facing this reality made us feel challenged to support the families and help to educate the children and adolescents hoping to decrease the poverty and the social differences. In our judgment the most important things to an education are faith, love, vision for the future and work.

The name Peniel

        Peniel means “the face of God”

This name was given to a place on the margins of a river where a man called Jacob(usurper) had an experience with God, being blessed and having his name changed to Israel(champion prince)

In this place Jacob said “I saw God face to face and my life was changed” (Gn 32:30)