Introducing...

Welcome to Escola Municipal Londres in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil...

We caught up with teacher Luciana as she discussed how her school came about to be involved in this opportunity and her hopes for the future...

How did you learn about this opportunity?

“I received an email from Craig asking if I would like to join Project Curitiba after he was given my details from the British Council. I then spoke to my school and entered into the schools partnership.”

Is English hard to teach in Brazil?

“It is a little bit hard to teach English because we do not always have the necessary equipment to teach. We have a lot of students with around 35 in each class and they only have one hour per week to study English. In better conditions it would be easier.”

What were your initial thoughts on this new project?

“My initial thoughts were how they opportunity would increase my student interest in the English language and in one month I already have students who are joining the English courses because of this project. They are motivated to speak English with new friends”

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

“I feel very excited to learn from teachers and students from a different part of the world and another city from our country. I believe that it will help my school to enlarge the children’s vision of the world and to see that their life can be so much more than they currently imagine.”

What are the children most looking forward too?

“The children are most looking forward to meeting the other children through Skype and show them a piece of their own lives. They feel very important because someone from a place so far away wants to know more about them and cares about their life.”

How will this project effect the children in your school?

“It has already had an effect as children are motivated to study English and more have enrolled in the English courses at my school.”

What is the impact of this project on other teachers in your school? “The other teachers see the impact on their students, they feel the same excitement and also motivation to learn English as well”

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

“I hope that my students will realise how English can change their lives and open their eyes and ideas about the world. I truly believe that this project will provide a new perspective of life to my students.”

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

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

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!"