Programmes
Bahia Street’s mission is to break cycles of poverty and violence through quality education for impoverished African-Brazilian women and girls living in the shantytowns of Salvador, Brazil. Outside of Brazil, we teach new perspectives on NGO management and issues of inequality, poverty, race, class and gender.
>More on our programmes in Brazil
>More on our programmes outside Brazil
In Brazil, Bahia Street provides a well-rounded education to sixty girls as a supplement to their attendance at local, poorly-funded state schools. Girls spend at least four hours a day at the Bahia Street School, where they receive instruction in all basic subjects as well as in health and reproduction, art, and leadership skills. For many girls, the Bahia Street School represents the only place where they can eat a hot meal, take a shower, and receive positive encouragement from adult role models.
Accomplishments
- Nine Bahia Street graduates are now at university studying law, library science, communications, architecture, accounting and nursing.
- Barbara, one of Bahia Street’s first students, completed a university degree in nutrition in 2008. She is Bahia Street’s first graduate to complete a university degree.
- Two graduates are presently studying at the Federal University of Bahia, considered Salvador’s best university.
- 10 graduates are studying at Salvador’s only state-funded university-track high school which requires passing a difficult entrance exam.
The Bahia Street School
Bahia Street started in a room generously loaned by the local Teacher’s Federation. When the programme grew, it became necessary to rent a building in the centre of Salvador, easily accessible by bus to all the shantytown neighbourhoods. In late 2003, Bahia Street bought a building in downtown Salvador, which was completely gutted and renovated. The students and staff moved into the new Bahia Street School in February 2005. Further renovations have been made over the years and the school now has four functioning floors in the five floor building. Plans for 2010 including completing and outfitting a new science laboratory.
Painting the renovated Bahia Street Centre
