BWB Brazil: Kijemy ūpú Mãguty (Eating Space / Food House)

2022 BWB Community Micro-Grant Program Winner
Corumbau, Bahia, Brazil
BWB Brazil, Karine Porto

Kijemy ūpú Mãguty (Food House) is an Indigenous community-led project that addresses the need for a traditional Indigenous kitchen so that the community can receive visitors and carry out important cultural rituals for the Pataxó. They will also build a dry bathroom to support tourism in the village. The village is home to approximately 11 families and 35 residents that will benefit from the kitchen daily. The outdoor kitchen will be integral to maintaining culture, the communities financial stability through tourism, and supporting children in living the traditional way of life. This project is in partnership with BWB Brazil.

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Update: Check out the new building on IG

Grantee Update: Kijemy ūpú Mãguty Cultural Center, Brazil

January 30th 2026

One year after completion of the community dry bathroom, the Pataxó village reports significant cultural and community growth. Community members shared that children celebrated the first time water flowed from the shower — a moment symbolizing improved dignity, sanitation, and well-being. As local partners noted, basic sanitation made it possible for broader cultural and community development to flourish.

Since the grant:

• The village has hosted 5+ traditional ceremonies with 80+ participants, primarily Indigenous.
• The family’s music collective has traveled to share their culture in multiple regions of Brazil.
• The site has become an official cultural center recognized by the Brazilian government.
• The community has begun expanding into planting and food-growing activities.

The project continues to support cultural preservation, youth connection to traditional lifeways, and financial stability through cultural tourism. The images below show the progress of this cultural center over time.