Cases|Events|Inside Ramacrisna|News
Solange Bottaro joined Ramacrisna in 1973 and has been closely following the Institute’s work for 50 years, continuing Professor Arlindo’s mission of transforming lives.
Some people are born to dedicate themselves to doing good. One example is Solange Bottaro, vice-president of Ramacrisna. She arrived at the Institute in 1973 to take yoga classes and never left, taking charge of projects that transform the lives of thousands of people.
Looking after Ramacrisna is something she’s been doing for five decades. So it’s no surprise that Solange knows everything about the Institute. But before she took the helm, she plunged headlong into the dream of Professor Arlindo Corrêa da Silva, the organisation’s founder.
The institute was still called Missão Ramacrisna when Solange arrived in 1973. She was one of the yoga students led by Professor Arlindo. The reference she had for the work were the mantras, which enchanted her.
But when she became a Yogin, as the students were called, Solange realised that there she would find an answer to an inner search. The Mission became a safe space. Focussed on spirituality rather than religiosity, the institution’s strength was working together. There were no conflicts of interest. On the contrary: everyone shared the idea of development proposed by Professor Arlindo.
“In the beginning, there was only light inside the buildings, outside there was none. I didn’t go to Belo Horizonte for six months. The telephone arrived in 1982. The teacher would bring the children from greater Belo Horizonte to be looked after at Ramacrisna. After many families from the north of Minas Gerais started coming to this region in search of a better life, Ramacrisna began to serve the community. From the 1990s onwards, the community began to really attend the institution. Everything the teacher taught us about spirituality, we had to put into practice. It was a very empowering experience,” he recalls.
Together with other Yoginis, Solange moved to Betim to help the teacher. Since then, she has never left. A dedicated student, she soon became the master’s right-hand man, seeing first-hand his dedication to making the world a better place.
Inside her, there was already a seed of the importance of dedicating one’s life to doing good. “I never thought that life should be summed up in caring only for the people with whom we have blood ties. We should always look for a way to serve, to make a difference in people’s lives,” she reflects.
The closeness between master and pupil meant that Solange was one of those chosen by Arlindo to continue his work. Alongside people who shared the same ideals and dedication to the cause, she began to look after the organisation in all areas, closely monitoring the progress of projects and the impact of actions on people’s lives.
But Solange says that this transition was not easy. As well as dealing with the loss of a very dear person, Professor Arlindo’s death meant losing the person who made all the decisions. “It was time to take a stand and continue the work. I had to reinvent myself as a person, becoming stronger and making decisions,” she says.
At that point, Solange, who had been closely following the projects from within the Institute, started going outside Ramacrisna’s doors in search of more partners. “I started going out, meeting people to continue the work, working on relationships, which is something I still do today,” she summarises.
In practice, Solange looks for entrepreneurs and social organisations that can contribute to Ramacrisna’s continuity. But that doesn’t mean she’s given up her experience with the projects. Even with a busy schedule, she keeps a close eye on each of the collaborators and students, becoming a reference point.
“My life is working at Ramacrisna, it was the choice I made from a very young age,” she says. It’s no wonder that, for her, the Institute is far from an obligation. “It’s my professional and spiritual fulfilment, everything revolves around this work,” she says.
Every year, the Institute expands its area of activity, increasing the number of people served, gaining recognition and bringing more and more innovation to the community. Solange’s work is fundamental to this.
But she explains that the quantity of services doesn’t make sense if you don’t maintain quality. “Everything we do is with quality in mind, not quantity, although the institution’s growth has come very naturally, with important awards and recognitions,” she says.
Today, Ramacrisna’s work is linked to technology, which gives children and teenagers greater possibilities for their professional future. Solange says that the Institute is a pioneer in working with artificial intelligence even in childhood. “We’re always focussed on expanding our work, always on what’s important for the child, what’s important for their quality of life, their families and the community in which they live,” she says.
As well as working with the community, Ramacrisna has become an example of management, transparency and compliance. Solange is proud of the reputation the institute has earned: “It’s management that makes Ramacrisna’s awards and recognition possible. It’s a constant search for the organisation’s governance. Everything is closely linked. My life revolves around it.”
The green landscape and contact with nature match the fullness of his life. “I’m very happy, because I chose a path that would really bring great joy and results. I enjoy what I do, travelling and I have a husband who has the same goal in life as I do,” she says.
With 50 years of work at Ramacrisna, Solange still hopes to do much more. She, who arrived curious to find out about Professor Arlindo’s work, dreamed the same dreams as him and made the projects her life. “I think 50 years is a long time and it’s been very enjoyable. I came without really knowing him and I stayed, becoming part of the work. Now there’s no other way of looking at it than to stay here as long as possible,” he concludes.
For 64 years, the Ramacrisna Institute has been working to improve the lives of millions of socially vulnerable people living in 12 cities in Greater Belo Horizonte. The projects include healthy, safe and free options for leisure, sport, culture, education, professional training and entry into the labour market.
Find more about the initiatives and contribute to continuing our work.
