2/29/96

CONTACT: Tom Walker at 614/593- 1339

ATHENS, Ohio -- Yvonne Bezerra de Mello, the Brazilian sculptor who gained international attention for her work with homeless street children in Rio de Janeiro, will speak on "Working with the Street Children of Rio" Monday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Irvine Auditorium on Ohio University's Athens campus.

Working with homeless street children in Rio since 1983, de Mello gained international media attention in 1993 when she defended the survivors of the "Candelaria Church Massacre" in which homeless children were killed by off-duty policeman. "She is a fascinating person," said Tom Walker, director of Latin American Studies program who has visited de Mello in Rio. "She is like the Mother Theresa of Brazil."

De Mello continues to feed and teach homeless children and is runningfor a seat on the Rio Municipal Council to gain more political leverage.