Highlights

Clarival do Prado Valladares Award – Introduced in November 2003, this initiative sponsors original research projects on subjects related to Brazilian history, giving priority to the history of Bahia. The award, which is a tribute to Bahian art critic and historian Clarival do Prado Valladares (1918-1983), gives a new format to Odebrecht’s cultural contribution, which will concentrate on the winning projects as of 2004.

The Royal Library’s Book of Books – Written by Lilia Moritz Schwarcz and Paulo César de Azevedo, this bilingual (Portuguese/English) publication is part of the Royal Library project, undertaken in partnership with Brazil’s National Library, to rediscover the priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts brought to Brazil by King João VI of Portugal in the early nineteenth century. The book was a tribute to Portugal and the Odebrecht Group’s partnership with that country through its Portuguese subsidiary BPC. An exhibition displaying part of the Royal Library collection was held at the National Library in Rio de Janeiro.

Memory Project – Since 1997, Odebrecht and the Banco do Brasil Foundation have paid homage to outstanding figures and events in Brazilian history. In 2003, the honoree was Oswaldo Cruz (1872-1917). The life and work of this physician and pioneer in the field of public health were the theme of a traveling exhibition mounted in 650 municipalities in 27 Brazilian states, a book, a website, a documentary and a primer for students.

Portal da Misericórdia – Odebrecht sponsors the Portal da Misericórdia project in the city of Salvador’s Historic District, which includes the restoration of the headquarters and art collection of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Bahia, a philanthropic institution founded in 1549.


Top photo, restoring art works at the
Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Bahia;
above, Lilia Schwarcz, the author of
The Royal Library’s Book of Books,
holding a copy of that publication