Denver, Colorado – A collaborative network of community colleges, churches and host families have successfully welcomed largest US-Brazil Connect’s largest student delegation to date. Over January and February, communities in Michigan, Montana, Iowa and Colorado hosted or will host 108 Brazilian students.
“When we send our fellows to Brazil, we are always amazed by the level of hospitality,” said US-Brazil Connect President Mary Gershwin. “This year we worked hard to match their kindness. Our families and an amazing set of new community partners rolled out the red carpet.”
The students were selected for their outstanding performance over the course of US-Brazil Connect’s Conexão Mundo Program. The two-week trip to the US rewards the top five percent of 2000 students who participated in the Conexão Mundo Program in 18 Brazilian states.
Tracy Simpson, US-Brazil Connect’s Exchange Visit Coordinator, worked with host families and community partners across the country to welcome the Brazilian students.
“Our goal in this trip is to expand the horizons of these amazing students,” explained Ms. Simpson. “We hope the connections host families, host communities and educational partners forged with the students will last for years, if not decades.”
The Brazilian students traveled to locations in the US where they could see their coaches from the previous summer. While the majority of students came to Denver, US-Brazil Connect’s community college partners also welcomed students to Jackson, Michigan; Kalispell, Montana; and Kirkwood, Iowa.
Select hosting communities in each city also matched the Brazilian students with activities and host families. In and around Denver, St. Ambrose Church, Denver Center for International Studies, Monarch High School, Boulder High School, Palomino Park, and Highline Academy all arranged activities and homestays for groups of student delegates. Jackson College, Kirkwood Community College and Flathead Valley Community College organized hosting in Michigan, Iowa and Montana.
A number of educational partners also gave the student delegates a chance to see the US education system in action. George Washington High School, Monarch High School, South High School, Foothills Elementary as well as hosting communities each welcomed Brazilian students into classroom activities.
US-Brazil Connect has a few remaining openings for volunteers, host families and hosting communities interested welcoming the second delegation of Conexão Mundo students arriving Sunday, February 15th. Interested families and communities should visit the US-Brazil Connect website to learn more.
