Building Strong Foundations. Creating Better Futures.
Volunteer-led.
Community-driven.
For more than four decades, Generous Hearts has brought people together around a simple belief: when people care enough to act, they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Generous Hearts is a Canadian registered charity supporting children, families and communities facing poverty in Brazil through initiatives focused on health, nutrition, education, housing, skills development and essential needs.
More Than 40 Years of Generosity
Our story began in Toronto in 1980, when founder Antonieta Lira Silva brought together a small group of Brazilian-Torontonians who shared a love for their Brazilian heritage and a desire to help others.
There was no formal organization. No office. No staff.
Just people willing to give their time, bring a community together and help where they could.
Those humble beginnings grew into a grassroots movement supporting charitable causes in Brazil. Generous Hearts was formally incorporated in Canada in 1999 and received registered charitable status in 2001.
More than four decades later, the organization continues to be guided by the same spirit of compassion, dignity and service upon which it was founded.
As Generous Hearts enters its next chapter, leadership of the organization is being passed from our founder to our new President and Antonieta's daughter-in-law, Dr. Patricia Khamis-Silva.
Message of President
Dr. Patricia Khamis-Silva
“Antonieta has shown us what can happen when generosity is turned into action, and I am honoured to carry forward the legacy she began. My commitment is to build upon that foundation, bringing together people, partnerships and new ideas that allow Generous Hearts to reach further, create meaningful impact and continue building better futures.”
Building Strong Foundations
We believe lasting change begins with strong foundations.
Throughout our history, Generous Hearts has supported projects addressing fundamental needs within communities facing poverty in Brazil.
HEALTH
Supporting access to healthcare, medication and initiatives that promote healthier lives.
NUTRITION
Helping provide food and nutritional support to children, families and vulnerable individuals.
EDUCATION
Creating opportunities for learning, education and personal development.
HOUSING & ESSENTIAL NEEDS
Helping families and individuals access safer living conditions and the basic necessities of everyday life.
SKILLS & OPPORTUNITY
Supporting skills development and initiatives designed to create greater independence and opportunity.
Generosity in Action
Over the decades, Generous Hearts has supported grassroots projects serving children, families and seniors in communities across Brazil.
Our Projects
Rural Village of Santa Luzia
Pernambuco, Brazil
Vitoria Humana Institute
Pernambuco, Brazil
Blessed by God Community
Pernambuco, Brazil
Santa Filonila Shelter
Pernambuco, Brazil
Smiling to the World
São Paulo, Brazil — Our newest initiative
While our projects have evolved over the years, the purpose behind them has remained the same:
Help where help is needed. Preserve dignity. Create opportunity.
Our Next Chapter:
Smiling to the World
Generous Hearts is entering a new chapter, one that builds upon more than four decades of grassroots service while creating new opportunities for direct, measurable impact.
Smiling to the World is our newest initiative, focused on bringing oral healthcare directly to children living in underserved communities.
In October 2026, our volunteer team will travel to São Paulo, Brazil, where we plan to provide dental care and oral-health education to approximately 300 children across three favela communities.
Working alongside local communities, volunteers and partners, the mission will provide preventive care, hygiene services and basic restorative treatment while helping children develop healthier oral-health habits for the future.
It is a new project, but one deeply connected to the philosophy that has guided Generous Hearts from the beginning:
Identify a need. Bring people together. Take action. Create impact.
Volunteer-Led & Community-Driven
Generous Hearts was built by volunteers...
And volunteers remain at the heart of who we are.
We believe meaningful change happens when individuals, communities, professionals, businesses and partners come together around a shared purpose.
Their generosity takes many forms, time, expertise, resources, partnerships and financial support, but every contribution helps us strengthen the communities we serve.
No contribution is too small to make a difference.
Be Part of What Comes Next
Our history was built by people who believed they could make a difference.
Our future will be too!