Past projects

PROJETO DRAMA

Paul Heritage began his involvement with Brazil in 1992, where he began working as a theatre director and university professor, establishing a drama-based programme in the prison complex known as Papuda, in the Federal District of Brasília, which in 1996 resulted in the creation of a studio theatre inside the prison that still bears Paul Heritage's name.

In 1998, People's Palace Projects launched its first prison programme in Brazil, focusing on AID/HIV education - Projeto Drama. An initial pilot project in 4 prisons in São Paulo, funded by the British Council and Brazilian government agencies responsible for the prison service and for health, was then expanded for implementation across 42 prisons across the state of São Paulo, reaching 9,000 prisoners.

Partner:
Centre for the Theatre of the Oppressed, Foundation for Education and Work in São Paulo Prison System [FUNAP]

Aim:
To train prison educators and guards in the use of drama-based AIDS/HIV education programme.

Main Activities:
Pilot health education programme focusing on the behavioural change and transformation of attitudes towards AIDS/HIV in 4 prisons, later expanded for implementation across 42 prisons in State of São Paulo.

Evaluation:
Department of Preventative Medicine, University of São Paulo

Awards:
First prize in the Concurso FUNSALUD/SIDALAC [promoted by the United Nations] for AIDS/HIV projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1998

Project Funders:
Brazilian Ministry of Health/World Health Organisation, British Council, Department of Prisons, Department for International Development [DFID]