NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate release
US-Brazil Connect Receives U.S. Embassy Grant
Brazilian technical students with aspirations of successful
global careers to visit Denver high schools in February 2016
DENVER December 17, 2015 -- US-Brazil Connect received a $45,000 grant from the U.S. Embassy in Brazil. The grant will support a visit of 88 Brazilian high school students to Denver from January 31 through February 13, 2016. The visit furthers global skills development in both countries.
The exchange is a part of the year-long program, Conexão Mundo (World Connect), developed by US-Brazil Connect in partnership with the Brazilian Confederation of Industry/SESI/SENAI. Brazil’s industry federations represent more than 350,000 employers in Brazil and play a critical leadership role in the development of the economy and workforce of the country.
The partnership has built global leadership and language skills by creating lasting connections between Brazil and the United States since 2012. More than 500 U.S. college students, young professionals, and leaders have traveled to Brazil to work with 5000 Brazilian technical students on language development, team dynamics, and other valuable leadership and workforce skills.
“The U.S. Embassy in Brazil is proud to support the impressive collaborative initiative of US-Brazil Connect. This partnership includes the Brazilian Confederation of Industry, 20 state-level industry associations in Brazil, six U.S. community colleges, and 11 Colorado companies and schools,” said the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, Liliana Ayalde. “US-Brazil Connect is not only building key workforce skills in both countries, it is also helping to deepen the understanding between our two great democracies and demonstrate how public/private collaboration can provide real leadership for education, civilian diplomacy, and economic opportunity.”
Eleven Colorado schools and partners are joining with US-Brazil Connect to welcome the Brazilian delegates to Colorado, including: Oracle, Denver Center for International Studies, Highline Academy, East High School, Denver Center for International Studies/Montbello, South High School, Monarch High School, Foothill Elementary, George Washington High School, SkyView Academy, and Palomino Park.
“This grant is an exciting step forward for US-Brazil Connect. It enables more connections between the U.S. and Brazil while creating opportunities for students who will create innovation in both countries,” states Mary Gershwin, president of US Brazil Connect. “We are looking forward to welcoming 88 top-notch Brazilian students at the end of January and are so grateful to the U.S. Embassy in Brazil and our partners in Colorado for their support."
According to Sergio Moreira, deputy director of Brazil’s National Confederation of Industry (CNI), the partnership with US-Brazil Connect addresses Brazil’s need for a highly skilled, globally-competent technical workforce. “The students selected for this trip represent hundreds of outstanding Brazilian youth who have participated on global teams, developed new skills in English, and helped to educate the United States about Brazil as a part of our partnership with US-Brazil Connect,” said Moreira. “We have examined the impact, and can see clearly that the Conexão Mundo program produces the results that matter for the future of our students, our industries, and our country.”
The student delegation represents 20 Brazilian states, including the Federal District of Brasilia. Participating states are: Alagoas, Amazonas, Amapá, Bahia, Espirito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerias, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rondônia, Santa Catarina, Sergipe, and São Paulo.
Six U.S. community colleges are members of the US-Brazil Connect Consortium: Jackson College, Miami Dade College, Flathead Valley Community College, Northwestern Community College, Kirkwood Community College, and Spokane Community Colleges.
For more information or to learn more about sponsoring the program, go to US-Brazil.org, contact Rebecca Yount, Communications and Development Manager at 720-338-8839, or email [email protected].
About US Brazil Connect
US-Brazil Connect is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting education, elevating cultural understanding, and advancing commerce between the Western Hemisphere's two largest nations. Based in Denver, US-Brazil Connect leads Conexão Mundo, an intensive international exchange program for Brazilian youth and U.S. college students and emerging young professionals. US-Brazil Connect has a proven track record of changing lives and creating economic opportunity for participants, impacting more than 6000 young people and leaders in business and education, earning the ongoing support of the Brazilian Confederation of Industry. US-Brazil Connect also links business interests and promotes cross-border collaboration on education and workforce excellence.
About The Brazilian Confederation of Industry/SESI/SENAI
Representing over 350,000 businesses throughout Brazil, the Brazilian Confederation of Industry (CNI) is one of the largest trade associations in the world. CNI has affiliate organizations in 26 states and the Federal District of Brazil. The SESI and SENAI education programs of CNI operate over 700 technical training schools in Brazil, serving 5 million students annually.
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