The Estevan Rotary Club received a jolt of Brazilian culture as five professionals from the Â鶹´«Ã½AV American country toured the city for a few days last week.
The group was in Canada as part of the Rotary Foundation's Group Study Exchange that sends teams to other countries for a vocational and cultural experience geared toward young professionals between the ages of 25 and 40. The five-person Brazilian team consisted of one team leader, who is a Rotarian, and four non-Rotarian team members. Each district sends a team.
The Estevan club has sent a team leader twice in the last few years, and while they didn't have a team leader or member as part of the exchange this year, the local club was able to host the exchange team for their district. Estevan's Rotarian district includes most of Saskatchewan and reaches to northwestern Ontario.
The group, from Ceara, Piaui and Maranhao, was in Estevan from June 12 to 15, before heading to Regina. On June 13 they toured the city.
Norm Nichol, Estevan Rotary president, said, "The whole intent is to exchange ideas. They are all young professional people, and they have come here (just as) we have sent a group back to Brazil earlier in the year."
Nichol has been part of the club for about three years, and this is the third foreign team they have had in that time.
"To be selected as a Rotary-exchange person, you go through quite a rigorous screening process. We want to make sure it's going to be people who are going to represent themselves and their country in a very positive manner. They really have been well received all around the world."
During a Rotary meeting and supper at the Taylorton Room at the Days Inn on June 14, the Brazilian team members each gave small presentations on their lives at home. The presentations showcased their city, job, family and friends, food and local culture.
The Brazilian team included three teachers, a financial adviser and a "tourismologist," who is the secretary of tourism for her state.
Waldemir Juca, the Brazilian team leader and English and physics teacher, spoke to the Estevan club about how the exchange teams are the "bridge" between continents, strengthening the global community.
"Building communities. Bridging continents. You are seeing exactly these things. We are bridging continents. We are the bridge," said Juca.
"You get that sense we all are part of one, big world," said Nichol. "We all believe in the same principles of the Rotary International (Foundation), and then we want to make sure that we are contributing to making the world a better place. I think the whole ideals of Rotary are wonderful to see, and it's not just here, it's in fact worldwide. Despite the languages and the differences, it's all very similar."
Juca said the reason he decided to apply to be a team leader was because Canada was the country he would exchange to.
"I have a passion, I know Canada and I love Canada. When I saw there was a destiny to Canada, I became a candidate."
After being selected to be the team leader, he said he was very happy and now thinks he definitely made a good decision.
"Canada is a beautiful country. The most nice and beautiful (part of) Canada is the people."
They held a barbecue at Nichol's house on June 13.
"That was a very informal evening. (It gave us) a chance to get to know the individuals and talk about their experiences in Rotary and what this trip has been like," he said.
Brazil is preparing to hold two of the biggest sporting events on the planet. The country is hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. For those events to be a success, Juca said the country has a lot of work to do creating more mainstream infrastructure. Building airports and seaports and adding communications networks will be vital to their success.
He noted it is important for Brazil to work with the international community to help get the job done.
As Juca said, "The whole world will be watching Brazil."
On a personal level, he plans on taking some of the experiences he witnessed in an ECS classroom during his stay back to his Brazilian classes.
