Legacy can be defined as an amount of money, property left to someone or something handed down by a predecessor. This year with Lionsraw has been a culmination of that definition.
The EMC2 football education centre that volunteers have worked on will hopefully be watertight by the time we leave in a few weeks and home to Futebol de Rua from January. It has been interesting to see the progress since we arrived in April and now it has reached the stage that we are painting the building that will host English lesson and football classes for thousands of children for the future is incredible.
We had our last day in the schools yesterday as we spent time with Doutel de Andrade and Romario Martins saying goodbye to the staff and children. When we held our Brazil Days in 2013 we could never have imagined that the outcome would have been English lessons in public schools delivered by volunteers and an exchange project between schools in England and Brazil. This had been a potential idea, but for two lads to deliver this from their homes in Newcastle seemed totally far fetched and unrealistic.Today we can say that we were part of 30 weeks of lessons to over 400 children. The outcome has been to trigger an interest in English and learning a new language, but ultimately it has been breaking down barriers and creating new friendships that have proved to be the most valuable lesson. Its difficult to learn about circumstances that children have been growing up or deal with at a young age, but sometimes the reality is they are not totally different from the UK. Children with separated parents would like them to get back together, children would like to know who their father is and they want make as best a life as they can. To be part of this is very touching as maybe we have been able to influence or become role models simply by turning up!
The football projects came to a close last week and its been a learning curve getting to know the young people, learning a new language and dealing with the environment in which these communities live. The outcomes for some young people is a life of crime or drugs and sometimes without a family to support them. For others they have reached the age to leave school without any opportunity or aspirations because there is a lack of direction. We have looked into young people volunteering with their local project to gain experience and maybe create new aspirations, but this is something that will take time. It has been humbling to be accepted into these communities and allowed to deliver football sessions to thousands of children.
We reflect on the year that it has been, but really when we arrive back home will be how we can look on what we have achieved this year. We have a list of what we have done, but sometimes its not the numbers or the words, but the experiences in Curitiba which we will remember fondly.
Its hard to predict the future, but maybe the changes for change that we have been part of this year can enable the future to be a little brighter for the children, but also for us. Its difficult to not be effected by the experience whether you spent four days, two weeks, two months, ten months or two years. Its not the chance to use that experience you have gained and look to the future.
Thanks for all the support the last two years, its exciting to be coming back home and also sad to be leaving a city we have been welcomed into. Keep and eye in The Independent this Monday as we will feature in Kevin Garside's column due to his continued support. A top man!
