Rosa Brambilla, originally from Brianza and affectionately known as “Rosetta,” was born in Italy in 1943 and arrived in Brazil in 1967 as a lay missionary. She worked alongside some of the poorest families in São Paulo, the Amazon region, and Macapá.

In 1978, she moved to Belo Horizonte and has lived in the Primeiro de Maio neighborhood ever since. There, together with a group of friends, she founded and led the Pastoral das Favelas (Favela Pastoral Ministry) of the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, bringing together dozens of grassroots community groups from the city's favelas. Its work focused on education, community organization, and advocacy for fundamental rights, including access to housing, citizenship, land rights, and the regularization and improvement of informal settlements.

At the same time, she founded Obras Educativas Padre Giussani, dedicating her life to supporting children from underserved communities, with family engagement at the heart of its educational approach.

In 2017, Rosa Brambilla was appointed Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy, one of the highest civilian honors awarded by the Italian Republic. As an expression of her gratitude, she wrote a letter reflecting on her life, her Journey, and the path that led to this recognition.