HOUSTON - In collaboration with the Brazilian Consulate in Houston, Amigos de las Americas (AMIGOS) and the Houston Independent School District (HISD) have launched the Classroom Community Impact Project with students in Belo Jardim, Pernambuco, Brazil.
The Classroom Community Impact Project is a virtual exchange and community engagement program that complements classroom learning. The collaborators intended to reproduce the program in the US and abroad. Students from all socioeconomic backgrounds can participate in this program as it is offered free of charge. The initiators designed the virtual program to be more accessible and equitable as well.
AMIGOS and HISD are committed to providing significant financial support to students so that they can participate in life-changing service and leadership opportunities.
According to the President & CEO of AMIGOS, Sara Nathan: “Youth have enormous power to shape our response to critical global issues. Providing opportunities for students to find their role in our global community is essential in building tomorrow’s leaders. Being able to promote meaningful cultural exchange in a virtual setting is a game-changer for accessibility. We are excited to partner with HISD on this venture.”
This year, AMIGOS hopes to recreate last year’s program success. More than 130 students participated in the 2020 Community Impact Project, which demonstrated how young people have a strong desire to make a difference and serve their communities.
Upon completion of the program, around 98 percent of them said they felt more confident in their ability to work with people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, approximately 98 percent said they wanted to be more involved in their communities, and about 95 percent said they felt more confident in their ability to plan and execute a community service project.