Teachers typically comment that one of their favorite things about teaching is when a light goes on for a child or when a student makes a connection with something that speaks to them in a powerful way. I have always loved teaching for that reason. I enjoy exposing people to knowledge and experiences that they can connect with deeply. Last week I had the privilege of being with 18 people as they experienced PRECE for the first time. I don’t know what was more exciting, watching the 6 young girls hang hammocks in their shared bedroom so they could sleep like “real Brasilians” or watching the adults as they began to comprehend the challenges within the Brazilian public education system. It was as if I could see the wheels in their mind churning as they were thinking about ways they could become involved with the PRECE moment. There is something magical about PRECE that calls people to become active, to respond to the great need and to seek ways to walk alongside the PRECE students and facilitators.
If you have never been to the countryside in northeastern Brasil let me set the scene. The drive to Cipó, where the PRECE movement has its roots, is about 2 hours from the city of Fortaleza over highways filled with potholes, donkeys pulling carts and men, women and children all sharing one bicycle. And, then you arrive on the dirt road which has occasional cow/sheep/chicken crossings, rocks sharp enough to pop the toughest tires and hills and curves that can’t be taken at more than 30 miles an hour. When you pull up to the farmhouse there is nothing out of the ordinary at first, but then you are greeted by the most generous and most hospitable people you will ever meet. Despite the time of day there is a spread of fresh farm cheese, vegetables from the PRECE garden, cidreira tea made from leaves from the yard, and something sweet. And, if you arrive around meal time you are sure to be served rice and beans and some sort of fresh meat. The house will always be well kept and prepared for your visit and everyone within a mile radius will be lined up to welcome you and embrace you with a hug and kiss. The hospitality exhibited by Brasilians is like none other.
During the two days that the FPC group spent at Cipó we visited 3 PRECE sites, taught an English class to 70 children from various PRECE schools surrounding Cipó and visited an ADEL project. Transporting a group of 18 over the country roads is no small accomplishment, but it is made easier by the “school buses”. The school bus is actually nothing more than a pick up truck with 4 boards across the bed where people can sit. There are poles/rails built along the side and top which double as “roll bars” for safety and handles so that the passengers don’t slide in to one another. Like sleeping in a hammock the transportation is an experience in and of itself!
When teaching English the FPC group taught about body parts- an easy lesson since all the teaching supplies and examples are already available with the students!! After an introduction to the lesson and teaching the basic vocabulary we broke in to smaller groups. Each family unit was responsible for teaching a group and practicing the new vocabulary. One of the most beautiful things was watching the American children take ownership of the lesson as they shared their language with the Brasilian children. In fact, most of the parents stepped aside and the children did the majority of the teaching!! When charged with a task children can accomplish more than we ever give them credit for.
Equally inspiring to the teaching the FPC children were doing was the fact that 70 PRECE students came out for an English class over their school break!!! Most of the American students I know take education for granted, complain about going to class and would never show up for an optional class during their school break. To see 70 students travel up to 45 minutes each way up for a 2 hour English class over their school break is nothing short of amazing. It proves to me once again how hungry Brasilian students are for strong education and how much of an impact PRECE is making! Congrats to both PRECE facilitators and PRECE students for the great strides you are making.
If you have never been to the countryside in northeastern Brasil let me set the scene. The drive to Cipó, where the PRECE movement has its roots, is about 2 hours from the city of Fortaleza over highways filled with potholes, donkeys pulling carts and men, women and children all sharing one bicycle. And, then you arrive on the dirt road which has occasional cow/sheep/chicken crossings, rocks sharp enough to pop the toughest tires and hills and curves that can’t be taken at more than 30 miles an hour. When you pull up to the farmhouse there is nothing out of the ordinary at first, but then you are greeted by the most generous and most hospitable people you will ever meet. Despite the time of day there is a spread of fresh farm cheese, vegetables from the PRECE garden, cidreira tea made from leaves from the yard, and something sweet. And, if you arrive around meal time you are sure to be served rice and beans and some sort of fresh meat. The house will always be well kept and prepared for your visit and everyone within a mile radius will be lined up to welcome you and embrace you with a hug and kiss. The hospitality exhibited by Brasilians is like none other.
During the two days that the FPC group spent at Cipó we visited 3 PRECE sites, taught an English class to 70 children from various PRECE schools surrounding Cipó and visited an ADEL project. Transporting a group of 18 over the country roads is no small accomplishment, but it is made easier by the “school buses”. The school bus is actually nothing more than a pick up truck with 4 boards across the bed where people can sit. There are poles/rails built along the side and top which double as “roll bars” for safety and handles so that the passengers don’t slide in to one another. Like sleeping in a hammock the transportation is an experience in and of itself!When teaching English the FPC group taught about body parts- an easy lesson since all the teaching supplies and examples are already available with the students!! After an introduction to the lesson and teaching the basic vocabulary we broke in to smaller groups. Each family unit was responsible for teaching a group and practicing the new vocabulary. One of the most beautiful things was watching the American children take ownership of the lesson as they shared their language with the Brasilian children. In fact, most of the parents stepped aside and the children did the majority of the teaching!! When charged with a task children can accomplish more than we ever give them credit for.
Equally inspiring to the teaching the FPC children were doing was the fact that 70 PRECE students came out for an English class over their school break!!! Most of the American students I know take education for granted, complain about going to class and would never show up for an optional class during their school break. To see 70 students travel up to 45 minutes each way up for a 2 hour English class over their school break is nothing short of amazing. It proves to me once again how hungry Brasilian students are for strong education and how much of an impact PRECE is making! Congrats to both PRECE facilitators and PRECE students for the great strides you are making. 
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