Zilda Arns

Sister Zilda Arns Neumann (August 25, 1934 – May 12, 2010) was a Brazilian Catholic nun and pioneering social activist who dedicated her life to fighting poverty and child malnutrition in Brazil. Born in southern Brazil to a family of German immigrants, she entered the Benedictine order and became deeply involved in community development work. In 1983, she founded the Pastoral da Criança, an innovative community-based health program that trained mothers to identify and address child malnutrition through simple, low-cost interventions. The program became a model for developing nations worldwide, saving countless lives across Latin America and Africa. Zilda was known for her tireless advocacy for the poorest communities and her belief that ordinary people could be agents of change. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times and received numerous international honors. Tragically, she died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake while serving on a humanitarian mission. Her legacy as a bridge between faith-based activism and evidence-based public health continues to inspire social workers and health professionals globally.