That time teachers from England visited Curitiba...

Its extremely repetitive, but have to say thanks to everyone that has supported the journey since 2013. It sounds quite far fetched to say that seven teachers from North Tyneside schools spent last week in Curitiba, Brazil with their partner schools but they actually did as part of a successful British Council funding bid that came about the beginning of this year. In 2013 they decided to do a Brazil Day for two lads hoping to get to Brazil and make a bit of difference, but also impacting the local community. I don't think we can not be proud of what has been achieved, however it is very much rolling with opportunities that came about and delivering outcomes with a passion to achieve.

I decided that I had to join the English teachers visiting Brazil and see them meeting their schools in person for the first time because I felt it was something I couldn't miss...and it would be nice to return and see what the schools are doing. The aim was to keep this trip to the other side of the world a secret from the Brazilians so as not to distract them from the English arrivals. I succeeded, although not without problems...at a local game in Curitiba the first impression for the teachers was a fan holding a hand gun as we ushered them through the gates!

The experience was unbelievable because you could literally see communities come together as they laughed, joked and discussed their schools in detail through broken English and Portuguese. Similarities and differences came up, but what overshadowed the trip was the awe in which everything was received. The Brazilian schools delivered welcome presentations that blew the English away with cultural dances, local music, fantastic displays and of course the national anthem. The children mobbed the English teachers as if they were celebrities and had a reel of questions they couldn't wait to ask them. The hope is this continued influence and communication keeps the English language 'real' and Brazilian children understand the need to learn and actually have the desire to pursue it. The other side of the project is the English children understand more about the world we live in and also the need to appreciate others.

The local government in Curitiba (Prefeitura de Curitiba) were fantastic and looked after the English teachers fantastically. I had to improve my Portuguese as there was a need to have a bit of translation, but sometimes words couldn't cover the emotions that filtered through the corridors. Two stand out moments include a Skype between Romario Martins and St. Cuthbert's where you could see how moved the English staff were, its hard not to get attached to the story or as started a project about happiness where Brazilian children and staff had to write what made them happy. It was a hard question to answer, but translating the responses was tougher - "gratitude for having the opportunity to meet new friends", "having a loving family" and "my children are the treasures in my life" just a small sample of responses.

The next year will see schools collaborate on various projects such as a joint diversity week, an eco friendly garden and introducing Children's Day to North Tyneside. Its almost a perfect pilot for the British Council to run with as more schools engage in the Newcastle to Brazil project in their own ways.

Three Brazilian teachers are coming to Newcastle in a couple of weeks and the nerves/excitement kicks in again. Whats the plan? the outcome? In all honesty it really is endless possibilities...

You can watch the TV report in Portuguese which covered the teachers arriving in Curitiba http://g1.globo.com/pr/parana/paranatv-2edicao/videos/t/edicoes/v/professores-ingleses-retornam-a-curitiba-para-conferir-resultados-de-projeto-feito-na-copa/4551971/

We used to joke about having 1000 nephews in Brazil, the reality is we've probably got about 3000-4000 across two continents!

For English staff thanks for being great sports and taking the moments for what they were...classic!

Road to Brazil II

It's been a while since the last post so might just do a wrap up on the last few months. To be honest the Brazil journey pretty much just continues in our mind as we are not living the experiences daily. Of course we keep in contact with friends in Curitiba/Brazil and Thad has a group of volunteers continuing the legacy in the city.

The teachers from England will travel to Curitiba on Saturday October 17th to stay for 10 days, 5 of which will be with their partner school. Its a really big opportunity for them to understand more of the culture and be able to share that with the children back in Newcastle. They already share information via email, but this real life interaction will bring the project to life.

We spoke to the Prefeitura and they are working on a plan for when they arrive. There is media interest both in Brazil and the UK about this exchange which should hopefully bring a bit of positivity about the World Cup legacy. We had the chance to meet with Gustavo Fruet last year and he remains interested in the project so the teachers will have the opportunity to meet him in a few months as well.

The teachers from Brazil will visit Newcastle on Saturday November 14th for 10 days where they will interact with the schools. They are extremely excited, for many of them its the first time out of Brazil, but they are interested to know more about education in the UK.

We got a message from an American lad who was visiting Curitiba recently and keen to volunteer. We put him in contact with Thad (a fellow American). He had a brilliant time with Thad in the communities and it does go to show the power of social media.

Good news as the Jogos da Amizade returns to Curitiba in November 2015 with the support of the Prefeitura de Curitiba. A video will be released closer to the time reflecting the event last year and a reminder of the World Cup mashed into one.

We had an idea back in March regarding August 2016, its a work in progress, but the next two weeks could put the wheels in motion.

A little bit of...Everything

The World Cup is over and Germany are the champions. However we continue the Lionsraw work in Curitiba delivering English lessons, delivering football coaching sessions and learning how to lay blocks on the build site in Cajuru for the education facility.

I guess the World Cup continues for us, but with a different focus about leaving a lasting legacy in Curitiba. Our English lessons are starting to utilize the resource given to us by Premier Skills, which follows the story of Josh Jones and his quest to play for Big City United. The first chapters are focused on dreams and goals so as part of the lesson at Maria Augusta Jouve we asked the children what their's were. It's hard to take in everything, especially in another language, but among the football player and musician we had some heartbreaking responses like wanting to know their father or for their parents to be back together. Some of the young people's goal is to teach their family English so they can help at home and for employment. We are not just teaching English at the school, but it seems like we are becoming an example of something positive for them to look up to. We explained our dreams were to be football players when younger and although that didn't happen it hasn't turned out to bad for us!

The football project at Pinhais is on a two week break as they have some much needed work done on the premises which has been a bit of a risk. We are also starting the donations that will help supply each child with a gift this Christmas as £100 has been raised so far to help to project deliver this year. Almirante and Cajuru are continuing steadily with an increased number of young people attending totalling around 100 young people involved each week.

We visited two of the local professional teams stadiums and training facilities (Atletico PR and Coritiba). They have been superb with us allowing us to see how they operate here in Brazil and learn from some of their coaching staff for personal development. We were taken on tours of the stadiums, including the Arena da Baixada and a little pit stop on the pitch which had been used only a few weeks before for the big event. A massive thank you to all those involved in supporting us and allowing us the privilege to visit.

I also visited a local hospital in Curitiba as I picked up an infection in my leg. I hadn't noticed until prior to a football session and after the session my leg had swollen to almost twice the size. It was an experience and slightly worrying as although the doctor tried to communicate in English it was mainly in Portuguese. I'm not sure what caused the infection, but after 5 days of medication and rest I can return to school tomorrow. The rest has coincided with some unbelievable weather here so I can't complain too much!

Along with my return the Brasileiro has returned and we watched Coritiba play against Corinthians yesterday. The game finished 0-0, but we did get a sun tan as we watched both teams cancel each other out. It is very difficult to judge Brazilian football as before we came it was assumed it would be amazing. The atmosphere is breath taking, at times during the game we will just watch the crowd and prior to kick off they do a fantastic show of banners. However when the football starts you almost wish the teams could deliver for the supporters as the game is drawn out by poor passing, long balls, needless free kicks, yellow cards and very little continued possession. The game is slow and you will rarely see a quick counter attack or a team break away. There are some individually talented players who can perform in spells, but general team play has left a lot to be desired. We want the teams to be brilliant and maybe they have hit a rough patch, but the Premier League is leading for us at the moment.

A huge group of our volunteers left over the last week so it was a pleasure to meet and get to know you all. Hope you all got back safely and have a blast with your family and friends!

Finally we will visit Uruguay to collect our visa to enable us to stay until December. A very long process, but eventually we look like we will be able to continue the legacy that was set out for us this year.

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

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