The Legion of Good Will was honored to have distinguished visitors at the José de Paiva Netto Educational Center located in Rio de Janeiro. Harold Villarosa, a businessman and renowned chef from the United States who aims to empower the youth, expressed his gratitude as he said “I am very happy and humbled to spend time with the kids today, to be able to see your inner workings here.” Mr. Villarosa was accompanied by Canadian consultant Charles Holmes, and volunteer Sthephani Peralta from Venezuela. Both were inspired by the work done by the LGW as Mr. Holmes said “The work of the LGW is absolutely extraordinary. You’re feeding them with love, food and for what I have seen here, great education.” They were warmly welcomed by the Ecumenical Choir of Children, which is formed by students and helps to instill the importance of creativity and expression in the school grounds. The innovative proposal, formed by the Pedagogies of Affection and the Ecumenical Citizenship, proposes a new model of learning. The philosophy goes by forming “Brain and Heart”.
The LGW adopted the practice of ecumenical spirituality within their teachings that are embodied with love. The guests toured the school as they visited the premises of the LGW School, the Dental Center, the Martial Arts Room and the cafeterias. In the last stop, the chefs were informed of the meals that are created to provide the students with a balanced nutrition. They made the point of interacting and having lunch together with the children, and were impressed to see the children spontaneously serving the vegetables.
The LGW also welcomed the rapper Blahzay Martell. As he toured the facilities in Sao Paulo and had the opportunity to speak with many of the children, he went on to say how he was inspired by the LGW. In a post he added to social media, he wrote these words by José de Paiva Netto, the President of the LGW: “The stability of the world begins in the heart of children.” The musician’s generosity led him to create his own fundraising campaign on Facebook in support of our organization. He was also joined by hip-hop artist Al Skratch, who shared of his visit being a highlight of his trip to Brazil as he stated “Hands down the most memorable and important part of my Brazilian trip was connecting with the children; communicating through the universal language of music!”.
The LGW extends its gratitude to these visitors who took the time to learn about our work and visit our school grounds. It is people like you who help keep our organization running and transforming so many lives.
The wellbeing of a child does not solely rely on their education but rather their being overall, mental and physical. The LGW prides itself on being an organization that protects the sanctity of all children and pushes forth an agenda where all human beings are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Want to join the cause and have a meaningful experience abroad? Learn more about our Blue Heart Ambassadors program or call (646) 398-7128.