Motivated to discuss the social problems of the historical centre of the city of São Paulo, associations, unions and businessmen of the region got together to define a common action plan in the local context. One of the issues chosen as a priority was the situation of children and adolescents who live on the streets. Starting from this gathering, several meetings took place to define which would be the best action strategy to deal with the issue.

The debate gathered strength at the State Meeting on the Child and Adolescent of the state of São Paulo, in August 1995. More than 700 people participated of the event, including representatives of civil society, executive and legislative powers, municipal councils for the rights of the child, guardianship councils, unions, as well as religious entities and universities.
In
December 1995, the Travessia Project, which was taking shape over the course of discussions, was established as a legal entity, and was named the "Fundação Projeto Travessia" (Travessia Project Foundation). Its founders were the Banker's Union of São Paulo, the ABC Steel industry's Union, the Teachers' Union of the Official Education System of the State of São Paulo (APEOESP), the Association Viva o Centro, Bradesco, Fibra bank (Vicunha group), and Pires Security Services.
The Street Education Project was devised as far back as March 1996. With the selection and hiring of social pedagogues, the programme started in the streets in June and served boys and girls who were living and surviving on the streets.
During its 16 years of action, the Foundation worked actively to defend and ensure of the rights of children and adolescents in a situation of social vulnerability, focusing its actions from the historical centre of the city of São Paulo outwards.

Time line

1995
• Legal establishment of the Travessia Project Foundation.

1996
• Beginning of the Street Education Project.

1997 to 2009
• Beginning of the Christmas Cards project.

1998
• Beginning of the International project GETS - Tertiary Sector Study Group.

1999
• The Foundation Travessia Project is declared a municipal entity of public benefit.
• Creation of the PER (Street Education), PEFECM (Education, Family, Community and Housing), PEACEL (Education, Art, Culture, Sport and Leisure), PEAD (Distance Learning), SOCIAL COMMUNICATION programmes.                                      
SOCIAL MOBILIZATION AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
• Strategic Planning.

 

2000
• XVII Award Franz de Castro Holzwarth – of the Brazilian Bar Association of S. Paulo (OAB SP).

2001
• Publication - Family drawings.
• Publication - Information without myths.   
• Beginning of the Literacy and Exercising Citizenship project.
• Publication - Literacy and practicing Citizenship. 
• Publication - From the Street to Citizenship.   
• The Foundation Travessia Project is declared a federal entity of public benefit.

2002
• Agreement with São Paulo City Council to enlarge the Street Education projects and implement two Citizenship centres and two Shelter Homes in the Southern and Eastern parts of the city.

2002
• The Foundation receives the Certificate of Charitable Institution and is entered in the register of the National Council of Social Welfare, by the Ministry of Social Security and Welfare.

2003
• Publication - Real stories.  

2004
• Agreement with FEBEM (now CASA Foundation) and São Paulo City Council to assist adolescents, who have broken the law.

2005
• Beginning of the project for Eradication of Child Labour.
• My House, My Place Project.

1st Seminar -

2006 

• Project for the Legal and Social Protection of Adolescents, in fulfillment of Socio-educational Measures                                                                                  
   in an Open Environment.

2006 

• "The ECA* in comic strips" Project (*Statute for Children and Adolescents).

2007 

• Project Santo André Shelter Home.

• 2nd Seminar

2007

• Integrated ABC* Project (the 3 cities Santo André, São Bernardo and São Caetano).

2008          
• Agreement with Petrobrás - Street Education Programme (PER)
• Award for Performance - Highlight of the year – Publisher Livre Mercado – Diário do Grande ABC.

2008 

• Agreement with FUMCAD (Municipal Fund for the Rights of the Child and Adolescent) - Leadership in the Community Project. 

2009

• Christmas Cards Project.

• Leadership in the Comunity Project.

• Publication – Street Education - Thoughts on the Practice.

• 1st Seminar – Street Education Programme - Action for Social Education on the Street.     

2010

. Renewal of the agreement with Petrobrás (PER).

2010

• Final seminar of the 1st. Phase of the Integrated AB Cproject.

• 2nd Seminar - Street Educction Programme - Reintegrated! And what now? 

2011

• Creation of the Travessia Development Centre.

• 14th "Betinho of Citizenship and Democracy" award.

• Publication - Statute for Children and Adolescents (ECA) in a magazine.