The Bahia Street volunteer program is designed to give participants a personal experience with a social change organization working to promote education and equality.  Volunteers contribute to Bahia Street’s mission by creating a positive environment in which Bahia Street students can learn and grow up in good health.  Bahia Street offers experiences in which volunteers can work side-by-side Bahia Street staff members and learn through them about the issues facing Bahia Street students in Brazil.

WHAT: Each summer vacation in Salvador, Bahia Street organizes a team of people to help get the school ready for the new academic year (which begins in February).   The building needs to be cleaned, painted, and reorganized for a new school year.   Volunteers work under the direction of school director Rita Conceição.  A highlight is the daily lunch the Bahia Street staff provides the work team.

WHO: January work party volunteers come from all backgrounds—students, teachers, mid-career professionals looking for a working holiday, and long-term visitors to Salvador looking for a local connection with an NGO.  We aim to recruit up to 10 individuals who stay for two weeks.

WHEN: Arrive on January 8 or 9, 2011 to join the work party from January 10-21, 2011.

WHERE: Bahia Street Center, Salvador, located near Pelhourinho

COST: We request a donation of $300 to cover the cost of the paints and materials since they are not included in our monthly budget.  This donation also pays for lunch and the staff time involved in organizing the work party.

ACCOMMODATION:  Participants are responsible for securing their own accommodation and for all expenses. Recommendations and orientation manual provided.

SIGN UP: Application form and more information found here.

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Don’t miss Bahia Street’s “Brasil vs. USA” soccer game this Saturday, August 7th from 1-3 pm at Cal Anderson Park on Capitol Hill in Seattle. At half-time, there will be a Brazilian-style bateria/percussion group, “Unidos da Samba,” led by Will MacArthur, capoeira by FICA Seattle led by Contra Mestre Silvinho, and joining them will be Brazilian capoeirista and sambista, Francisco Pacifico.

The after-party, beginning at 3:30 pm, is at La Spiga (1429 12th Avenue, with all proceeds benefiting Bahia Street.  A HUGE THANK YOU to La Spiga, All Nations Soccer Bar & Restaurant and Novo Fogo for their support!

WHEN: Saturday, August 7, 2010, 1pm – 3pm
WHERE: Cal Anderson Park/Bobby Morris Playfield, 1100 E Pine St, Seattle, Washington 98122

For more information, please email brasilvsusa@thelaporas.com.

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Bahia Street will launch the summer season with live Brazilian music and drumming, Capoeira, and dance performances.

Friday, June 11, 2010, 7:00pm – midnight
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, West Seattle
Who: Bahia In Motion (dance), Bantos Capoeira Seattle (capoeira), FICA (capoeira), GiraSol (dance), Sambatuque (band), Tudo Beleza (dance), Vamola (drumming & dance)

Youngstown Cultural Arts Center will be transformed into a Brazilian festival with all of the sights, sounds and flavors of this fascinating country.  Bringing together some of the best Brazilian performers in the region, the Summer Beat festival begins with a multi-age Capoeira roda (circle) featuring Bantos Capoeira Seattle, FICA, and other Seattle-based Capoeira groups.  Seattle’s premier drum and dance ensemble— Vamola— will get everyone on their feet with the pulsating rhythms that bring to life the celebratory spirit of Carnaval.  Vamola, Bahia in Motion, and Tudo Beleza dancers will transport us to Bahia with a Samba Reggae dance designed to get every audience member dancing as if on the streets of Salvador.  Tudo Beleza dancers with their plumes of feathers and colorful costumes will further heat up the night dancing to the fast-paced and exciting Rio-Style Samba (Samba no Pe). Audience members will finish the evening dancing to band Sambatuque, accompanied by vibrant dancers from GiraSol, a Brazil-inspired Samba dance group.

The event will begin at 7pm and is intended for a 21 and older crowd (though children are welcome).  Beer and wine will be available for purchase.  Kitanda Café will provide authentic Brazilian food and drink.

Entrance with a requested $10 donation, with all proceeds benefiting Bahia Street.

Bahia Street is a non-profit organization based in Seattle, Salvador, and London, that breaks the cycle of poverty and violence through education.  Bahia Street provides high quality education, health and nutrition services, leadership training, and community outreach with the goal of fostering greater equality for impoverished girls and their families living in the shantytowns of Salvador.  Because of Bahia Street’s commitment to locally-driven social change, twelve girls have now entered university, and new initiatives focused on high school girls and the parents are supporting a next generation of activists able to work for change for their communities.  www.bahiastreet.org

THANK YOU TO MARITIME BREWERY, CHATEAU STE MICHELLE, and ROCKRIDGE CIDERY FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THIS EVENT!

Event poster