Casa Matria - Vila Brandão / Salvador/Bahia
“the mother’s house” - Casa Matria will be an innovative community center in Vila Brandão, offering holistic programming in empowerment, cultural arts, ecology, micro-economy and healing. Mixing and confronting different cultures on a face to face base, dividing knowledge by integrating – exchanging – learning from each other… that’s our answer to the social, cultural and racial ghettoisation of society. Better access to education and social, professional, cultural and sanitary advice will help to build up a more just and peaceful society. Sharing the privilege of a residence in a natural spot in the center of a metropolis, Casa Matria accepts the challenge to take care of the local environment.

Casa Matria is the possible meeting point between Vila Brandão and it's exteded neighborhood. All proposed activities and services will have a focus on education, equal rights, ecology, a democratic society and the fight against prejudices and discrimination. Free internet access and free use of media-tools (video, TV, photography) for local projects are part of the concept. A videoteca and a library will be built up step by step.

Our focus lies on aids-prevention, campaigning against sexual abuse, sex-tourism and violence prevention, women support, ambiental care and active citizenship.
Casa Matria is the point to organize community actions, it is a place for meetings and gatherings, for public discussions and democratic processes. It is also open for festivities connected with cultural or educational purposes.

Actually, we are in a legal fight against a group of people with criminal intention who squatted Casa Matria and wait for the liberation of the house to go on with the structural reformes.

PROJECTS
Nevertheless, we started with the activities already in december 2008.
A first workshop "Teatro dos oprimidos" / Augusto Boal has been offered by a resident artist, Haroldo Grey & his colleague Carla Moraes.
February - August 2009: Workshops introducing modern dance/ballet by Sophia & Maya / USA, music classes with Austrian professor Günther, sanitary advise by Brazilian worldtraveller and pharmacologist Marlui, box classes with American teacher Ade - all Casa Matria residents.
March-april 2010: urban agriculture workshops and research project with finish scientist Vilja Larosto in cooperation with the university of Helsinki