Anália Emília Franco Bastos, better known as Anália Franco, was born on 1 February 1853, in the city of Resende, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and died on 20 January 1919, in the city of São Paulo. She was a journalist, writer, poet and expert educator, who left a legacy of love for others and tireless work for good, an example of selflessness and true charity.

She began her career in education at the age of 15, when she was a teacher and helped her mother, who was also a teacher. She lived at a time when society exploited blacks, and where women had no voice.

In 1871 the Free Womb Law was passed, which proposed freedom for children born to slave mothers, but they would be under the guardianship of slave masters until the age of 8, which resulted in abuse and mistreatment, and then the children were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Moved by this situation, Anália Franco began her social work by first writing letters to the farmers' wives, asking for help and support for them. And then she created a place to take in these children, called the Maternal Home.

This first place was provided free of charge by one of the women Anália contacted for help. However, the condition imposed by her was that blacks and whites should not mix. A proposal that Anália rejected, and went on to pay rent for the place to care for disadvantaged children without any racial distinction whatsoever. Not content with Anália's decision, the farmer's wife used her resources and her husband's influence to expel Anália from the site.

Faced with this situation, Anália went to the city of São Paulo, where she rented a house with her own money, which corresponded to half of her salary as a teacher. And, not having enough money to feed the children, she took to the streets to ask for help.

Anália Franco dedicated a large part of her life to socio-educational activities for children, mainly black children of slaves. However, she expanded her social projects and also helped working women, the poor, the marginalised, orphans and the needy. She believed in a liberating education, where she tried to empower those served, giving vocational training and developing with them the learning, growth and (re)construction of their own lives, where they could then actively participate in society again.

Anália Franco collaborated with several newspapers and magazines in various cities, as well as in Portugal. And on 30 April 1898 she created her own magazine entitled "Álbum de niñas", published monthly and aimed at young Brazilian women, of a literary and educational nature, with much of the content produced by Anália herself, who also received help from other contributors.

The magazine operated until 1901, and was a way of stimulating girls' education, as Anália used this medium to call on parents and society to ensure that women's education was not restricted to literacy alone, as well as requesting support for public education.

On 17 November 1901, Anália Franco inaugurated the "Femenine Association Beneficent and Instructive of the State of São Paulo", to help, instruct and educate poor children, trying to eradicate illiteracy, misery and ignorance among the less favoured. In her own words, the Association "does not have as its sole objective to protect and educate the underprivileged; it has a higher purpose, which is to bring together around a holy idea all the ladies of intelligence and good will, to work in common accord for the social good".

Although she was a Spiritist, Anália never wanted to show this nuance in her work and projects, because she welcomed children of different religions, and believed that the main thing was to teach the fundamental truths of any religion, such as the existence of God and love for others.

Anália was an example of dedication and a firm believer in the power of education. With her speeches she tried to convince others, especially women, that the Brazilian nation would only have a worthy future through the education of children, saying: "Let us educate and support the poor children who need our help: pulling them out of the paths of vices, making them useful and worthy citizens for the greatness of our country".

She had under her supervision some thirty children's schools in São Paulo, homes for the elderly, nurseries and other schools in 24 other cities, totalling approximately 70 institutions, in which Anália gave her life to maintain the livelihood and quality of work in these loving and welcoming homes.

He had to overcome many difficulties when resources were scarce due to the Second World War, where he could hardly count on government support. He held several events and was, for a time, helped by friends and collaborators. She then toured cities with the "Regente Feijó" Women's Band and the Musical Dramatic Group of the ‘Dom Romualdo’ Regenerative Colony, both founded by her, to raise donations for the Association, always, of course, with the help and support of her husband Francisco Antônio Bastos.

Despite all these efforts, another calamity was to strike, and Brazil was not beyond its reach. A pandemic known as the "Spanish flu" began in Europe, and in 1918 there were a large number of deaths in São Paulo.

No longer physically strong enough to go on, after all the efforts and anguish she had endured to care for her beloved children, Anália disembodied on 20 January 1919, in São Paulo.

A delicate soul, pure of heart, dedicated, humble, patient, loving, she was a faithful servant of Jesus and built an immense spiritual family. She had no biological children, but hundreds of children of the heart. She was called mother, and all her work was dedicated to the Father of Infinite Mercy.

She left a legacy of love and an exemplary educator. She wrote several novels, contributed to various magazines and newspapers and inspired thousands of souls, and remains, to this day, an unforgettable personality.

For Anália Franco, "after the thought and word of God, nothing is more beautiful and noble than the mission of the true educator of children".