Last week we welcomed our new volunteer, Danukshi Mudannayake, from our partner World Teach. She just started to work as an English tutor, teaching children and teenagers from Centro de Transformação Vida Nova, one of our partner NGOs. Danu is originally from the United Kingdom, but is currently living in Cambridge. She’s studying at the Harvard College and this is her first time in South America.

Danu is only 19, but arrived with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to join the program and expects to be able to improve herself and her languages skills. She already had some experiences on mentoring and tutoring children and is interested in the educational area. Those are a couple reasons she mentioned this program would be perfect for her, to expand her abilities as a teacher, as well as engaging with the Brazilian culture.

Also last week, Danu and the other two volunteers participated in our ESL training, attended Portuguese classes and visited local NGOs. The orientation week aims to prepare them to start their activities as English tutors. We wish that her experience in our country represents a time of learning and personal growth.