Odara Project

The Odara Project, implemented by Instituto Odara, is a pilot initiative designed to advance literacy and nurture young women as Afro-Brazilian leaders from Quilombola and peripheral communities in Brazil’s Northeast. By combining foundational literacy frameworks with political education and community building, the program also delivers professional development for teachers and works to dismantle racial disparities in local territories.

Focused on Quilombola communities in Bahia’s Chapada Diamantina region (Seabra and Boninal) and the Caiana dos Crioulos community in Alagoa Grande, Paraíba, the project spent 2025 in a comprehensive planning phase. Key milestones included defining methodologies, mapping target communities, and building alignment with public school networks to prepare for its 2026 launch.

The Lemann Foundation helped structure this phase by bridging connections with ecosystem partners and supporting alignment with public school networks, ensuring a robust framework for implementation on the ground.