US-Brazil Connect has discovered US industry leaders share a growing interest in workforce development in Brazil and the US.  When the Denver nonprofit hosted 108 of Brazil’s top math, science, and technology students during January and February 2015, US companies opened their doors to showcase opportunities for meaningful work in the technical sciences as career options for these students.

The students who took part in the trip to the US were selected for excellent achievement during the 2014 Conexão Mundo Program—an educational collaboration between US-Brazil Connect and the Brazilian Confirmation of Industry (CNI). Together, the two organizations work to create opportunities for young people in both countries by building skills required for success in a global economy—cultural competency, language efficiency and confidence when speaking English.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Applied Control Engineering, ARCADIS US Engineering, the ALCOA Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars/Brazil Institute, and a range of US companies on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit participated in the Brazilian student visit.

“We’re proud to support the brightest young minds of Brazil by strengthening their interest and confidence in pursuing STEM education and careers,” said Kathy Tobey, vice president and general manager of Special Programs for Lockheed Martin Space Systems. “Through their intellect and curiosity, the students will help drive Brazil’s growing space economy.”

When the students visited in January, Lockheed Martin Space Systems not only allowed students to demo virtual reality goggles and see models of next-generation US spacecraft. They also connected the students with young engineers working on the Orion Spacecraft—the future of NASA’s manned space program.  

“In our work with 2,000 Brazilian students over Conexão Mundo 2014, we have learned they want challenging careers that will connect them with the world. But they know little about the real options for great jobs,” said Mary Gershwin, president of US-Brazil Connect. “Through our partnership with Brazil’s Confederation of Industry, we help students see that the STEM fields can open the future to previously unimaginable work opportunities that are both global and meaningful.”