Long Overdue!

I've eventually got around to doing another blog piece as it has been quite a hectic end of the year. We would like to wish you a Merry Xmas (Feliz Natal) and a Happy New Year (Bom fin de ano). I hope you've had as exciting year as we have throughout 2013 and all the best for 2014.

We visited London on Tuesday, which was a crazy day of travelling, to secure our volunteer VISA for next year. The appointment did not go as smoothly as we thought, but we did get it accepted. Now it is a waiting game so hopefully in January we get everything we need processed so we can still fly out on January 29th.

Our schools project and the work Lionsraw did featured in Gazeta do Povo yesterday and you can read it (in Portuguese) on this link http://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/vidaecidadania/conteudo.phtml?tl=1&id=1434422&tit=Um-gol-social-dos-amantes-do-futebol.

We did a Skype between Holystone Primary and CEI Maria Augusta Jouve at the start of December which was amazing. Children and staff from both schools had the opportunity to talk about their school system, hobbies, food, vacation activities and of course football. They also shared a joint passion for One Direction which involved singing together despite being thousands of miles away!

In the last few months we managed to reach £9000 raised which started from our own personal challenges. An amazing total and honestly it is much appreciated for all the support from friends, family and the schools.

We did more Brazil Days in St. John's Primary, St. Cuthbert's Primary and Tyneview Primary. A huge thank you to all the children, parents and staff involved in the day!

The art work by pupils from Excelsior Academy was completed and featured in numerous media across the North East like this http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/north-east/pupils-artwork-heads-to-world-cup-1-6290050.

Thanks to all the students from Brazil at International House who have helped us over the year. Every thing is much appreciated and wish you all the best in 2014!

You can share our Facebook page or Twitter to keep updated much quicker than this blog! www.facebook.com/ProjectCuritiba or www.twitter.com/ProjectCuritiba.

We might have released another video as well so have a look at www.youtube.com/ProjectCuritiba too!

Blog Update

You can read a personal blog piece that we have done for Lionsraw in their latest newsletter.

http://lionsraw.org/road-to-curitiba-craig-and-michaels-story/

TWO more Brazil Days have been confirmed at Rowland's Gill Primary and Tyneview Primary.

Great North Run completed and around £300+ raised. Top effort!

Brazil Beach Day

You can now find our Brazilian Beach Day photo's at Brazil Beach Day

We have started our season for Newcastle Westgate Lionsraw and yesterday saw us beat Morpeth 3-1 to secure a first league win of the season.

One week to go until the Great North Run and you can sponsor us at www.justgiving.com/projectcuritiba as we aim to complete another personal challenge!

Globo!

Hello!

Sorry for the delay but things have been quite busy this last few weeks. Our TV interview featured on Globo and you can watch it here:

http://g1.globo.com/pr/parana/paranatv-2edicao/videos/t/edicoes/v/copa-do-mundo-ingleses-se-preparam-para-vir-ao-brasil/2763825/

We have also arranged for a schools link with 5 schools in Curitiba that will culminate in us visitig next year when we are in Brazil. You can read about that here:

http://www.cidadedoconhecimento.org.br/cidadedoconhecimento/index.php?subcan=7&cod_not=40648

It is crazy to think about everything that has happened, but to take each thing in our step. We held a beach sports festival yesterday and despite the poor weather it was enjoyed by all taking part. You can see Leao and Sammy the Squirrel from StreetGames enjoying a game of volleyball.

We recently sent some t shirts to Curitiba for Marcos and his colleagues, but also the mayor Gustavo Fruet. They all look really great!

Finally a special thanks to three girls who have been in Newcastle and helped us a lot with the project. It really does feel like we have the whole of Brazil behind us.

Abracos!

TV Band Interview

Please find the link to our TV Band interview which aired 4 times on Brazilian national TV.

We hope to have English subtitles too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnEZ-qexr2g

Great North Run numbers have came with 3 weeks to go until our next personal challenge.

Atleta Bom de Nota

Firstly I want to say a massive thanks and we really appreciate the support from Brazil. Since the first Brazil Day video was released the reaction has been unbelievable. We have done a couple TV interviews, we have featured on websites and in an online magazine. We receive messages of support and offers of help when we will arrive. We also have some great Brazilian friends here in Newcastle who have helped in many different ways. It is brilliant for us!

The purpose of this blog update is to explain a bit about a project that is already going on in Curitiba.There will be some things when we arrive that might be new or we can develop, however it is important to highlight the good work that is already going on within the city.

http://www.atletabomdenota.yolasite.com/

This project started in 2007 as a group of volunteers offer the opportunity for young people from 7 to 17 years to progress through sport, culture and education. They currently serve 180 young people from low income families with the focus on family, community and education. The main purpose is that young people are not left on the streets in an environment that may involve drugs or crime.

The young people in this project already have achieved:

• good results at school
• improved discipline
• respect for each other and family
• improved learning
• a better future

Please see these video's with the project in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3JCVoDkjYnw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pzNJuTyzAX4

It is something we look forward to being involved with, but also to help us learn about the city when we first arrive!

Obrigado Gil.

Brazil Update

We hosted a final Brazil Day at Excelsior Academy before the schools broke up for Summer. A great day had by all and they will be doing activities in September to raise funds towards the project.

We spent some time in Birmingham with StreetGames to support the youth conference as Young Advisors. We met Rik Waddon, a Paralympian who competed in Beijing and London.

We have some new kit with an adapted Lionsraw logo. The popularity has surprised us because initially they were just for us to use on Brazil Days, in meetings and when we leave for Curitiba.

If you have ever wondered what the school thought of a Brazil Day well now you can see thanks to this interview with Holystone Primary School's headteacher!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruMQ0OcePP4

For those of you in Brazil:

Brazilian friends we have news for you. If you have TV Bandeirantes our interview will feature on these days at these times:

- "Jornal da Band" next Tuesday 6th August. At 7:30pm (Brazil time/horario Brasileiro).
- "Jornal da Noite" on Thursday 8th August. At 12:30am.
- "Band Esporte Clube" on Sunday 11th August. At 2pm.
- "Jogo Aberto" on Wednesday 14th August. At 11:15am.

Thanks for all the support so far!

Brazil Day (4)

We held our fourth Brazil Day at Redesdale Primary and they raised £206 for the project. It was another fantastic day and we would like to thank all those who supported including pupils, parents, staff, students and  our team. They had a day of music, futsal, inflatables and language which has turned into a winning formula! Here are some images from the day:

It will quieten down for a few weeks until our Brazil Day at Excelsior Academy on July 18th. It will be slightly different as luckily we have arranged an art competition that the winning piece will be sent to Curitiba and put on display.

Today we have a media release (it is in Portuguese for those who can understand). Always great to feature and we appreciate the interest in our story.
http://esportes.terra.com.br/futebol/abrindo-jogo/blog/2013/07/01/ingleses-escolhem-curitiba-para-democratizar-copa-2014/

Brazil Day

What a week it has been! Firstly I would like to say a huge thank you to all those who have helped support the Brazil Day's: Les, Barbara, Luiza, Julianna, Isabela, Mare, Michael, Ryan and Ryan!

It is hard to put them into words because each time we do one they get better and better. They have all been fantastic and it is brilliant to see the schools embrace Brazil! Fordley Primary raised £355 and Forest Hall Primary raised £256 to go towards the project. The best thing about this week has been the children's interaction with the students from International House. They have been like celebrities to the pupils and the feedback from the girls to us has been fantastic. We are very proud that they have had an excellent time and hope they remember the day for a long time!

Our Facebook has lots of photos and video's from the days. My favourite has to be one of an impromptu dance lesson by the Brazilian students for the pupils which is amazing!!!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151508010130617&notif_t=like

Maluco!

Forest Hall

Fordley