Introducing Leandro...

Introducing Leandro from Escola Professor Mourão Filho...

How did you learn about this opportunity?

“I learned about the project from Luciana, who is a teacher at E.M. Londres.”

Is English hard to teach in Brazil?

“I think so. Unfortunately education is hardly seen as priority and most Brazilian students do not see any good reason to learn English.”

What were your initial thoughts on this new project?

“Honestly, my initial thought was that it would not work out since most students do not really care about learning English. However, as being a teacher involves believing and not giving up easily, I have decided to give it a chance.”

How do you think having the opportunity to interact with a school in Brazil and England help your school?

“I think that will help a lot, as having this interaction will encourage all the staff to embrace the project.”

What are the children most looking forward too?

“I guess they are most looking forward to chatting with and sending letters to the students in England.”

How will this project effect the children in your school?

“I think that will open their minds to the real importance of learning English.”

What is the impact of this project on other teachers in your school?

“I hope this project will encourage other teachers to take part and help the English teachers implement the project.”

What hope do you have for the future with this project?

“I hope this project will be well availed and that this be the first of many projects in my school.”

Introducing Rio de Janeiro...

Introducing Wladilene from Escola Municipal Ministro Gama Filho...

How did you learn about this opportunity?

“A friend of mine, Luciana Oliveira, told me about this project.”

Is English hard to teach in Brazil?

“In public schools, it is hard to teach English because most of the students are not aware about the importance of learning a second language.”

What were your initial thoughts on this new project?

“I thought it would be a good way for them to be familiar with the English language.”

How do you think having the opportunity to interact with a school in Brazil and England help your school?

“In my opinion, the contact with others will encourage them to interact in English because they will see other Brazilian students doing it from Curitiba.”  

What are the children most looking forward too?

“When I told them about this project, they became interested in meeting the people from England and they started to ask questions about the country.”

How will this project effect the children in your school?

“I think it will spark student’s desire to explore a world that they do not know that exists.”

What is the impact of this project on other teachers in your school?

“I believe it will have a great impact on them. I have not had time to talk to them yet as I have just talked to my directors and they are really excited about it.”

What hope do you have for the future with this project?

“Firstly, I hope the children become more interested in learning a second language. Secondly, that they explore, investigate and understand their world and the wider world.”

Road to Brazil...Stadium Delay...Visa Delay...Perdido!

We started our fundraising a year ago today, climbing Ben Nevis, which makes it hard to comprehend the impact a decision we made in November 2012 is now influencing our lives and decisions as we sit waiting in Newcastle.

We spoke last night about how proud we were of what we had achieved given limited resources, a target of £10,000 to support us and no experience on how to start the "Newcastle to Brazil" journey. We started with a year in Brazil from January, but if truth be known since we decided in 2012 Brazil has been a major part of our lives whether that was fundraising, partying, with friends and in sport. We've both developed as people and made new friends along the way. It does become difficult to say goodbye or see you soon after spending time with people, but we've learnt to deal with that and soon that will be us. You realise the people who care about you and those who are interested in the idea behind our story. Luckily we've made some good friends to help us settle into Brazil.

We've had our fair share of media interest which is brilliant, maybe it might inspire people to take a step in the direction they would like. We can draw our inspiration from the people who are able to raise £40,000+ for charities like Tiny Lives and Childrens Heart Foundation. It is all inspirational!

We came up with the idea of a Brazil Day and yesterday we held our 10th at Star of the Sea Primary school. We raised about £600, but with it being a last minute decision we didn't know what to expect. I had personally forgotten what the experience was like, not only for us delivering, but for the pupils and students from International House Newcastle. They are literally celebrities for the day with children swarming around them to get an autograph and ask questions about their country. For us it is nice to see the young people enjoy the day taking part in different activities that seems to be catching the imagination of the schools as they are now recommending it to others!

Our VISA is still in limbo as we wait for it to be processed which is proving difficult especially as we both finished work in expectation to go. They say that happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. So we should have left on 29th January, but instead on the 7th February we had 455 children engaged in a Brazil Day. Positivity!

We have heard about the stadium situation in Curitiba and hope that by the 18th February they have came to a safe decision. Whether they hold World Cup games or not we couldn't really have a Project Curitiba and not be based in the city. Unfortunately if they can't hold the games then maybe we can come up with a solution, we've already came up with random ideas before and it has turned out to be quite good. 10 Brazil Days and 3894 pupils engaged.

It's been a fantastic year for us, a pleasure to meet all the people we have and hopefully we've left a lasting memory of Newcastle for you to remember.

The waiting game continues for us and Curitiba. Ate logo!

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.

Promo Video

We released a promo video yesterday which has footage of the Brazil Day at Holystone. The main video which explains Project Curitiba will be out next week.

We have also featured in the News Guardian today. You can read that here:

http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/community/carnival-comes-to-town-for-brazil-1-5724262

Brazil Day!

Our first Brazil Day has been completed at Holystone Primary and what a day it was. It left me quite speechless because after all the planning and organising for the event I don't think it could have went any better.


The idea of a Brazil Day came as an opportunity to share our NewcastletoBrazil aim and thankfully schools have taken the idea on to help support us and the project. Sadly the weather was typical North East England weather with a cool wind and rain, but the enthusiasm and excitement from pupils made this a day to remember. Just before the day we prepared a presentation which explained the purpose behind the day, but actually made us minor celebrities as children recognised us as we passed through the school.

As we approached the school to setup for the day they proudly had a Brazil flag on show next to a union jack flag. We delivered futsal tricks with an inflatable pitch, they school organised WorldBeaters to come in and teach pupils music. We managed to have some Brazilian students come along and meet pupils to give them the opportunity to ask question, learn some phrases and culture.

Overall the 480 pupils were absolutely fantastic and really took to the day helping to raise £383. I can't thank them enough for the support and hope to create a link between a school in Curitiba for them. The carnival they finished with was brilliant and hopefully we should have a video appearing soon.

The main thing was for pupils to enjoy the day and two quotes stick in the mind "we should do this every Friday" and "best day ever!"