REDES SOCIAIS: UM ESTUDO DE CASO SOBRE A FAZENDA DA ESPERANÇA

Abstract

This article is a case study on the Farm of Hope, a non-profit filantropic entity that aims at recovering drug addicts, based on 3 fundamental elements: sharing common space, work and practice of spirituality, and whose actions in the areas of Social Assistance, Health and Education have promoted a social transformation of the actors involved. The article presents a study on the contribution of networks in the solution of social issues, since these occupy the void created by the withdrawal of the State on this issue. The Farm of Hope was created out of individual actions and consolidated itself in the structure of a hierarchical network, based on established trust relationships between the various actors who shared an interest in responding to the drug problem in the community, allowing the creation of joint between the various organizations: public, private and non-profit in a way to contribute to the management of social politics. As results of this study, we have: the identification of internal and external relationships of Farm of Hope with the community and partners and the formation of strong and weak ties, revealing an important element of innovation in meeting social needs. Finally it was pointed out new possibilities of topics for research by viewing the relationships in the network and its consequences.