Brazilian student on the ball with his idea

An English student who works to promote education among the poor in his native Brazil is the brains behind a project which educates international and Galway students about each other’s culture.

For the past two months, primary schools students of the Educate Together School in Newcastle and the ‘Jes’ on Sea Road have been welcoming students from the Atlantic Language School to give presentations on 11 different countries around the world.

Yesterday, the primary school pupils returned the favour, giving their take on all things Irish for the international students of the Atlantic School.

It has led to a fascinating exchange of ideas between the students, reveals Nitlon Clécio, the project architect.

When he arrived here eight months ago, Nitlon had barely a word of English.

He came from a poor district in São Paulo where many of the young people leave school early and take to selling drugs to the rich to make ends meet.

He went to college, studying computer science and later a masters in project management.

He became a consultant, working on projects in some of São Paulo’s biggest international companies who were keen to contribute to educational programmes. He became the bridge between these companies and the charities on the front line who were trying to get young people to turn their back on a life of crime.

“I’m from a poor community. When I started to do courses in university everything changed in my life. Big gates opened. I wanted the same for the children in Brazil. You can see there are very many possibilities as long as you keep learning.”

For the past two years he had worked on a large project and had managed to save up a considerable amount of money.

“I could pay for one house, or pay a car. I said no. Education is the key, so I decided to come to Galway as it was cheapest to do a course,” he explained over a coffee.

“In Brazil there are very many companies from America and England. Companies from China, they too speak English. I lost many projects because I couldn’t understand English.”

Not content to just concentrate on the language, Nitlon began to read as much as he could about the education system here.

He read up the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) which aims to “ensure that learners are equipped with the relevant knowledge, and the key dispositions, skills and values to motivate and empower them to become informed citizens acting for a more sustainable future”.

He came up with the idea of ‘The World in the Class’ programme to allow for the exchange of knowledge between young people.

“This exchange is promoting respect for differences, love of neighbours and building a sustainable future,” he explains.

“I love that quote – ‘knowledge helps out, but only love rescues inside’ – I think it’s so true and I wanted to bring that to a reality.”

Nitlon was shocked to learn about the statistics on suicide and the problem of alcohol among young people. He felt the project could show young people that finding happiness was possible in many ways.

It has been an emotional rollercoaster for many of the students from as far away as China, Iraq, Korea and Brazil.

During the questions put to them by the Irish classes, some have been reduced to tears as they speak about the more difficult aspects of their lives. Their presentations cover the usual facts about their countries such as size, population, religion and geography. It also discusses politics, music, education systems and the racial makeup of their homes.

“Every language school has a big opportunity to share knowledge. My idea is to show this is possible and I hope all language schools in Galway will continue this after I’m gone,” he reflects.

“Sometimes the companies only think about the profit and you forget you can do something for your community. Behind a company there are always people who have a heart.”

Next month he leaves Galway to do a whirlwind trip of 16 different countries before returning to Brazil armed with competent English, and a fresh appreciation for Irish culture.

“I have learned so much, not just English, but about the culture of Ireland, Celtic history. The culture is beautiful, the castles, the cliffs, Connemara.”