Since August 8th, a group of professors and students from Liverpool Hope University has been carrying out activities in the Vianópolis region.

Learning through play! With this approach, the group of professors and students from Liverpool Hope University in England has been conducting cultural and educational activities at the Ramacrisna Institute in Betim. The activities are part of the Globalized Solidarity project, organized by the English university in partnership with the Brazilian institution—the only non-English-speaking organization involved in the project. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the project in Brazil.

Since the 8th, the exchange participants have been immersed in a variety of enriching activities, interacting with students from various programs of the Institute, including the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center – CAER, the Ramacrisna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Adolescent Apprentices project, the FabLab, among others.

This year’s activities are led by professors Pinar Oztop and Simona Palladino, along with students William James, Phoebe Kate Chapman, and Chloe Jynx Greenlay. Pinar Oztop, the head of the delegation, highlighted the experience of working with the children at CAER: “The university’s international volunteer program offers the opportunity to participate in projects that address the development of children and adolescents in various countries around the world. Working with these children has been very rewarding and a great learning experience for us. Ramacrisna has a very effective pedagogy; children are encouraged to learn here through play, and that has truly captivated us,” says Pinar.

In addition to educational activities, the group is working alongside Institute professionals to develop a documentary showcasing Ramacrisna’s culture from an Italo-Brazilian perspective. This initiative aims to put into practice the filmmaking workshops taught by the group to students from Antenados Produtora—a video production company at Ramacrisna Institute that offers audiovisual training to the community.

The exchange will continue until the first week of September, with a diverse program that includes theater, sports, English classes, and crafts led by Liverpool Hope University students.

Solange Bottaro, vice-president of the Ramacrisna Institute, emphasized the importance of the project. “This partnership, now celebrating its 20th year, not only strengthens the ties between our institutions but also enriches our educational environment, providing new perspectives and experiences that contribute to the holistic development of our students,” she said.