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!

Craig and Michael's Story

ABOUT US

In 2012 we spent two weeks in Warsaw, Poland during Euro 2012 coaching football in schools and youth detention centres. This opportunity came about through our volunteering through StreetGames and their partnership with the football charity Lionsraw. This was an amazing opportunity as it gave us a chance to learn new skills and gain life experience. In Poland all our sessions focused on teamwork and handling disappointment as that is something the youth offender’s centres had identified as appropriate to the groups. In the school sessions we were treated like celebrities as the children wanted to meet their new coaches from England. The experience of being in a city hosting a major sporting event was incredible.

We share a dream of wanting to go to the Brazil World Cup in 2014 not just as spectators but as people who want to make a difference in the world by using sport as the tool to engage disadvantaged people. The surrounding area of Curitiba has problems including drugs, but young children do not attend school leaving them with little to do apart from resort to a life of crime. Even within the city children attend school for half a day meaning they have free time that needs to be occupied.

This article is about us and our backgrounds in sport, volunteering and our life experiences.

Craig Robson

Age – 23 Born – Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom Volunteer Experience – I started volunteering during my degree at Northumbria University. Through my degree placement I started working with North Tyneside Council and eventually this led to a full time coaching role. However I remained a volunteer and continued to support new volunteers on a project set up by the Council. This meant I was able to travel to Poland and represent our project. Sporting Experience – I hold a variety of sports qualifications including football, table tennis, dodgeball and athletics at level 2. I am also qualified as bikeability instructor teaching young people how to cycle on the roads safely. Life Experience – Poland 2012 was amazing as it is the first major sporting event I have attended in a different country. I spent a month travelling around Peru visiting the Amazon and Machu Pichu which was classic. Hobbies and Interests - My main hobby is sport as it is something that I am involved with daily either as work or socially. I enjoy travelling and learning about new cultures which make Brazil 2014 an ideal experience!

Michael Gardner

Age – 21

Born – Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Volunteer Experience – I started volunteering after deciding that I did not want to work my whole life doing something I was not passionate about. Football has always been a big part of my life and I started to volunteer at my local football project called the HatTrick project. I volunteer for my local football club and I am also on the young advisors board for a national charity called StreetGames.

Sporting Experience – I have years of experience coaching football and through my volunteering commitments I have won both local and national awards for outstanding contributions to my local community. I have a FA level 1 and nearing completion of my FA level 2. I am a sports leader’s level 2 and I am also a qualified tutor. I hope to gain a lot more qualifications during the year to prepare me for Brazil 2014.

Life Experience – Poland 2012 was life changing for me because the work was so worthwhile and it felt that we were leaving a lasting legacy for Warsaw. Through my work with StreetGames I was offered a work placement with Coca Cola during the London 2012 Olympic Games. I was based at the Olympic Park and had the privileged to witness the unbelievable atmosphere around the parks whilst watching the different sports in my spare time.

Hobbies and Interests - My main hobby is football, I coach and play football. I support Newcastle United who play in the English Premier League. I have witnessed some of the world’s biggest sporting events and it is safe to say that I have caught the bug and shall be using my passion to change lives all over the world.

WATCH OUT BRAZIL 2014

HOME SUPPORT FROM OUR TEAM WESTGATE LIONSRAW

AND SO IT BEGINS!!!!!!!!!

@PROJECTCURITIBA