Grants from the EDC Project Fund for Strength and Sustainability are helping the Brazilian Educational and Cultural Centre (BREACC) improve its teaching and put it on a stronger footing.
The Bournemouth group, which supports Portuguese speaking children aged two to 15 all over Dorset, with educational programmes, used an initial £2,306 grant for a new laptop, bookkeeping training and training for eight teachers and volunteers.
Administrator Nancy Muaro said by teaching Portuguese and Brazilian culture in a fun way, BREACC helps children maintain a connection to their heritage and the training for teachers led to a shift in classroom practice. They also attended a symposium on Portuguese as a heritage language.
“By sending five teachers to the symposium, and the attendance of the teacher training in bilingualism, it was a turning point for the teachers who returned to the classrooms with a completely new approach,” she said.
This funding has been instrumental in strengthening our charity and enabling us to continue our vital work in the community
The bookkeeping training provided more robust financial controls and has moved BREACC towards total financial transparency and better budget allocation, she said. “It ensures every penny is used to support our mission,” she said.
Having a new laptop allowed secure migration of sensitive data. Nancy said: “It removed a huge weight from our shoulders, I no longer worry about mixing school data with my personal files.”
The grant also funded memberships of the YPF (Young People Foundation) Trust and attending a NCVO Outcomes and Impact Measurement Workshop. “It fostered a culture of impact measurement, making BREACC more grant-ready,” said Nancy.
“This grant has transformed BREACC from a volunteer-led initiative into a professionally equipped organisation that is safer, more transparent, and pedagogically advanced, ensuring the Portuguese heritage language thrives in our community for years to come.
“This funding has been instrumental in strengthening our charity and enabling us to continue our vital work in the community.”