2012 | A Life-Changing Mission Begins

At just 17 and 19 years old, Marcos Freire and Jonnes Queiroz left their home country to embark on the greatest adventure of their lives—a two-year mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Shocked by the level of poverty they encountered, they began selling snacks outside an elite school in the capital. Marcos sang in Lingala, the local dialect, to draw attention. Their efforts raised enough funds to provide food for families in nearby villages. This experience profoundly shaped their calling—to fight poverty and create real opportunities for vulnerable children and families.

2014 | A Vision Takes Root: BALUARTE

Upon returning home, a new vision began to take shape. The name Baluarte—originally a lyric in one of Marcos’s songs—evolved into a powerful mission: to build places of refuge, safety, and opportunity in Africa. Baluarte was no longer just an idea; it had become a calling.

2017 | Return to Africa – With a Purpose

Three years later, Marcos Freire was invited back to Africa to perform in a concert. Afterward, he and Jonnes Queiroz traveled to Congo with the dream of starting a school. However, their journey took an unexpected turn—they found themselves trapped in a conflict involving accusations of witchcraft and were locked inside a house in Kinshasa for seven days. Upon safely returning home, their conviction was stronger than ever. They dreamed of opening Baluarte Luanda—a school to raise a new generation through education and faith.

2018 | The First BALUARTE School Opens in Luanda

In Capollo II, one of the most underserved neighborhoods in Luanda—with no running water, electricity, schools, or accessible healthcare—the first Baluarte school opened its doors to 40 children. In a community where children often wandered the streets and suffered abuse, the school became a sanctuary. It began with basic literacy, tutoring, and daily meals. Within a year, enrollment doubled, and the school expanded to include music, theater, dance, circus arts, and Christian discipleship.

2019 | A Journey to the U.S. and a New Ally

As Marcos’s music career progressed, he traveled with Jonnes Queiroz to Boston, MA, for a 3-month intensive English course at Approach International Student Center. There, they met Michelle Fernandes, the school founder and CEO, a well-respected entrepreneur and philanthropist who has led several charitable projects in the U.S., Africa, Asia, and Brazil, helping nonprofit organizations scale their reach. Deeply moved by the Baluarte mission, Michelle Fernandes became a key supporter, committing to help grow the Luanda project through pledged donations.

2020 | Growth and Recognition in Angola

The school in Luanda grew to nearly 300 students and was officially recognized by the Angolan government. Baluarte built a dedicated team of over 40 staff members and opened a shelter for 10 children—five of whom were orphaned and had been living alone, cared for by their 12-year-old sister who had endured years of abuse. During this time, Marcos Freire and Jonnes Queiroz returned to Brazil to care for Mama Lane (Marcos’ mother), who had been diagnosed with cancer.

2021 | A New Chapter in Northeast Brazil

As the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, Marcos Freire and Jonnes Queiroz found themselves in their hometown of Campina Grande. There, with the support of Michelle Fernandes and Approach International Student Center, they launched Baluarte Nordeste, opening a rented house to host extracurricular activities, parenting programs, and weekly food distributions to over 150 families. The initiative supported drought-stricken communities and provided essential aid to vulnerable families—powered by a growing team of missionaries and volunteers from across Brazil.

2022 | The start of BALUARTE USA

In 2022, Marcos Freire and Jonnes Queiroz returned to the United States with a clear mission: to invite Michelle Fernandes to join them as a co-founder of Baluarte and help them expand the Brazilian organization worldwide. At the time, Michelle Fernandes, then a recipient of the ACCET Thomas R. Tillia Community Service Awards due to numerous contributions to various charitable & community projects, offered to start BaluarteUSA, as an independent US charitable organization focusing mostly on scaling the Baluarte projects in Luanda and Brazil but also to continue implementing its own projects in the U.S. and around the world.

2023 | Establishing Baluarte as a Global Organization

With vision, leadership, and heart, Michelle Fernandes led a team of over 100 participants at Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery event, surpassing 20,000 attendees and more than 400 teams from around the world. In less than 48 hours, they raised over $100,000 in financial donations and secured an additional $200,000 in in-kind contributions, launching BaluarteUSA’s transformative project in Congo. This achievement marked a turning point, positioning BaluarteUSA — and by extension, Baluarte Brazil — as a respected global humanitarian organization.

With the support of Maick Mutej, coordinator of the Orphans of Congo project from the organization Fraternidade sem Fronteiras, BaluarteUSA acquired a vital plot of land near the Bulengo displacement camp in Goma for the construction of a school. They also rented a house to serve both as a volunteer base and as a shelter for orphans and critically ill children affected by war and displacement in Congo.

2023 | A Global Milestone: Congo and Beyond

In Goma, the Baluarte Brazil field team and volunteers were faced with the harsh reality of children who were sick, abandoned, and forgotten by war. The response was swift and compassionate: to use the volunteers’ recently rented house as a safe shelter and care center. This gave rise to the Baluarte Rescue Home in Goma, marking a new and powerful chapter in the organization’s mission of love, dignity, and restoration.

In December 2023, with the support of Maick Mutej and the generosity of donors and institutions from the United States, BaluarteUSA raised the necessary funds to rescue and care for 115 children—survivors of trauma, conflict, and displacement—who now live at the Baluarte care center. For Marcos Freire and Jonnes Queiroz, the beginning of BaluarteUSA’s mission in Congo was the fulfillment of a dream nurtured over many years.

2023 | Baluarte Experience in Luanda

In 2023, Baluarte Brazil hosted its most impactful fundraising event to date — "The Baluarte Experience," in Luanda. The evening featured a highly successful silent auction, raising over 600,000 dollars, and garnered the support of prominent Brazilian celebrities, influencers, and artists. Notable names included Aiane Freitas, Tirullipa, Negrali, Edmazia Mayembe, Camila Vieira, Paulo Vieira, André Victor, Fábio Júnior, Ana Hickmann, and many others who lent their voices and platforms to the cause.

The funds raised are managed by Baluarte Brazil and were pledged toward the development of the Baluarte Complex in Luanda — a visionary project aimed at expanding educational and social services for vulnerable communities. However, by the end of 2024, construction remained at a standstill due to ongoing challenges in securing the necessary building permits. The Brazilian team continues to work diligently with local authorities to obtain licensing and move the project forward.

2023 | CharityART: Art with a Purpose in Boston

In a beautiful fusion of creativity and compassion, the Student Ambassadors of Approach International Student Center—led by Minouche Zavorotna, Nathalia Brito, and Luiza Freitas — organized the first-ever CharityART: Art with a Purpose eventin Boston, MA. The initiative aimed to raise funds for the children supported by BaluarteUSA, specifically those rescued and cared for at the Baluarte Rescue House in Congo.

The event received generous contributions from celebrated artists, including Ricardo Nassif, Margarette Mattos, Andreza Moon, Ton Costa, Maria Durand, Josias Monteiro, Diego Cruz, Arthur Cabra, and many others. Through their art, they gave voice to a mission of love—transforming creativity into tangible impact for some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

2024 | Jessica’s Journey: Hope Against Lymphoma

In a heartfelt tribute to love, loss, and resilience, BaluarteUSA proudly launched a special campaign to honor the legacy of Jessica Fernandes’s late husband. Fulfilling her deeply personal wish, the campaign aimed to support Weill Cornell Medicine’s groundbreaking research on non-Hodgkin lymphoma through an annual contribution.

The initiative struck a powerful chord within our community and raised $25,000—funds that will directly fuel advancements in treatment and offer renewed hope to those battling the disease. Jessica’s Journey is more than a fundraiser—it is a testament to enduring love, remembrance, and the extraordinary impact of collective compassion.

2024 | Supporting Flood Victims in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

In response to the devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, BaluarteUSA launched an emergency GoFundMe campaign aimed at delivering immediate relief to those affected. The campaign raised $6,110, which was used to provide essential supplies including clothing, meals, and clean water for displaced families.

This initiative is a reflection of our shared commitment to showing up in moments of crisis—with compassion, action, and a deep sense of global responsibility.