In the beginning of March, another year of the Solidarity English has started in the village of Serra Grande – an action of Patrons for Life Movement. This English course has been offered to the community, totally free, for the third consecutive year and has as its main objective the training of residents (teenagers and young adults) in English. In addition to learning English, students receive notions of etiquette, solidarity and kindness, including review of written and spoken Portuguese.

 

Taking advantage of the increasing flow of foreign tourists in the Itacaré/Serra Grande Environmental Protection Area, the “Solidarity English Course” brings the proposal to fill the gap of language in this region, offering local residents the opportunity to increase their capacity and thereby expand their professional horizons and possibilities to get better jobs in the tourism industry.

 

The good new is that, as of April, one of the classes of the course will be sponsored by the Apprentice Village Project,  an action of Arapyaú Institute (through the activities and actions of this project, children and young people from public schools are encouraged to – in a playful manner (educational games) – learn how to pay attention in class, read and write, think, calculate, solve problem-situations and act in a context of rules and tasks to be accomplished – sharing goals, willing to learn, overcoming mistakes, valuing life together and being creative.

 

 

The methodology of Solidarity English is fully adapted to the daily reality of local students, who have little or no contact with the English language and little or no access to the media where this language is used (movies, cable TV, newspapers, magazines, books and internet). All materials used in class (text, music CDs and DVDs) are based on existing English courses, which were compilated in order to providing an easy to assimilate material.

 

The completion of Solidarity English is only possible thanks to the patronage of the students who pay the monthly cost of R$ 30,00 by student. In 2009, 22 out of 42 students were “adopted”, 6 were paying-students and 14 students didn’t pay at all. Starting this year, the funds raised from sponsors and from the support from Arapyaú Institute will be directed solely to the purchase of teaching materials (dictionaries, texts, CDs, notebooks, folders, etc..) and logistics (fuel for the displacement of a teacher who lives 5 km from the village and acts voluntarily in the project).

 

This year, the Solidarity English involves 50 students divided into four classes in four levels: Beginners I & II, Intermediate I & II. Classes are held in the Missionary Sisters’ House on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:15 PM & 6:30 PM (Beginners I & Intermediate II), and Monday and Wednesday classes are held at Casazul at 5:15 PM & 6:30 PM. Each class lasts one hour and fifteen minutes.

 

So? Want to help being a Godfather/Godmother to one or more students? More young people and adults benefit the better! It can be for 3 months (R$ 90,00/student), for 6 months (R$180,00/student) or for a year (R$360,00/student). Email us : contato@mecenasdavida.org.br and we will send a bank transfer to facilitate your donation.

 

WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR DONATION and THANKS ARAPYAÚ INSTITUTE !

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