Brazil-France Exchange Program
New experiences, cultural exchanges, travels, friends and a lot of growth! This is the 17th edition Brazil-France Exchange in a nutshell. Since 2002, students from the French organization Sport Dans La Ville have come to Brazil to visit the Gol de Letra Foundation and learn about its projects; and Gol de Letra students also visit France to learn about the actions developed there.
In 2018, 18 French (including youth and educators) visited the units of the Gol de Letra Foundation in Caju, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, in Vila Albertina. They were able to get to know both cities, tour the main sights and, of course, closely follow the activities developed by the Foundation here in Brazil.
In the second half of the exchange it was Brazilians’ turn to travel to France. 8 young people and 3 educators (11 people total) headed to Paris carrying many expectations and wishes. The program began with sightseeing tours of Paris, the French capital, and then continued to Lyon, home to Sport Dans La Ville. From then on various sports, social and cultural activities were carried out, which encouraged each of the young people and the educators present there to live new experiences.
Being in different territories, meeting new people, learning about different cultures and habits are extremely enriching experiences for the expansion of the worldview and the cultural repertoire of adolescents and young people. This solid partnership between the Gol de Letra Foundation and Sport Dans La Ville can provide this and more!
And the trip turned into poetry! On the last day, the Brazilian delegation recited the text below and thrilled those present:
It's time to leave.
Now there is no turning back.
Each will go home with more friends, knowing more.
We children, teenagers and adults shared unique moments throughout these days.
We saw the World Cup.
We took selfies.
We shared the same spaces.
We hugged each other.
We loved each other daily.
Accents taught us to be better.
Understanding the differences made us go further.
Each of us welcomed someone and that was beautiful.
How do you thank so many laughs, so many good memories?
We can only give thanks by kissing whomever is at our side and say: thank you for everything!
Exchange contacts on Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram.
Embrace, kiss or cuddle.
Whatever.
Just don't lose what you have achieved in this unique place.
Just don't stop saying now what you are feeling.
Probably this group will never meet again.
We will return to our countries full of stories to tell, happy tears to dry.
See you soon, you who hugged me, encouraged me and moved me.
You will be forever in my heart!
See you, my friends.
Up until...
Testimonials
The exchange program marked my life for the recognition given by the Gol de Letra Foundation, the people I met and the unique and truly unforgettable moments I lived. It has given me new perspectives and possibilities, both for my personal life and for my days as an educator
The exchange program was a unique experience in my life where I could learn a lot about living with other people. I am very grateful to the Gol de Letra Foundation for providing me with this opportunity for personal and professional growth. It was almost 20 days of great exchange, where I could meet wonderful people and still follow the experience of these young people in this journey of immersion in another culture. It was a fantastic adventure!
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