Nilce Campos

Nilce is the Director of the Pedra Viva Centre in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

She is also the former head teacher of state school Silviano Brandão in Belo Horizonte. When she arrived at the school the place was in chaos, with violent behavior requiring police intervention several times a day. She took control and improved behavior by teaching the students and their parents to take ownership of their lives. Between the students and their parents, they cleaned up the school in every aspect, from attitudes to graffiti. It is now praised by the authorities and seen as a model for delinquent schools across Belo Horizonte. She also started a program of extra-curricular activities, including volleyball, football, chess, IT suite, dance, percussion, guitar and singing to name a few.

She graduated teaching in 1992 and is currently pursuing a social workers degree.

Matt Roper knew Nilce from his previous years living in Brazil and knew of her passion to help the oppressed and neglected children in the favelaʼs (slums) of Belo Horizonte. When we first discussed with Matt the possibilities of how we would introduce the first project, he told us of this remarkable woman who had the respect of government officials and drug lords alike. She actually had a plaque given to her by the Pedreira Drug Lords, the most violent favela in Belo Horizonte, which reads “ Queen of Pedreira”!

On a hot January day, after Nilce placed a call to the drug lords who control the favela requesting temporary peace (no shooting!), she walked us through Pedreira. We saw first hand the relationship she has with the children who live there. Girls came from everywhere, and each had a similar response when they saw Nilce. They would run to hug her. In the midst of crumbling houses, steep walkways and raw sewage, she brought joy to the faces of children who have seen and endured unimaginable neglect and hardship.

Nilce shares our vision of bringing hope, healing and justice to the girls of Brazil. She has retired from her position as head teacher of Silviano Brandão to work full time at the Pedra Viva Centre, to work alongside the families and girls within the Pedreira Favela. She will also help Matt and Dani Roper research and facilitate “Project 116”, the opening of centres along the notorious BR 116 motorway.

Awards Nilce has received for her work at the school and community:

• HONOUR OF MERIT OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MINAS GERAIS
• HONOR OF MERIT OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BELO HORIZONTE (TWO TIMES)
• SOCIAL SOLIDARITY MEDAL ( By the Lions Club of Belo Horizonte )
• INCONFIDENCIA MEDAL ( By the State of Minas Gerais )
• MEDAL SANTOS DUMONT ( By the State of Minas Gerais )
• QUEEN OF PEDREIRA PRADO LOPES ( By the community of Pedreira Prado Lopes )