What will be of our world after the pandemic? This million-dollar question has been keeping many people awake at night, wondering if the world as we know it will remain the same or drastically change after “we take our masks off”. The answer is a simple one: the secret lies in the hands of our leaders to be.

Recently in Tampa (Florida), more than 160 CEOs reunited in the Gorrie Elementary school, ready to greet students and follow them on their daily classes’ routine. Why? During an interview with ABC Action News (WFTS Tampa Bay), the CEO of the marketing company Elevate Inc, AaKash Patel, explained us the reason: “These are the kids that are going to run our community someday so we have to educate them as much as we can and connect them to our business leaders”.

It´s with that same mindset that the Michaelis Foundation have been dedicating a significant number of projects for young people during the years. With the goal to contribute with the education of this generation of big dreams, the organization partners with many others to bring hands-on activities to schools from all around the globe. “We are truly inspired by our youth. We got to have faith in their projects and dreams, walking side by side to both teach and learn with them, as they lead us to beautiful things”, stated Jefferson Michaelis, director of the MFGE.

In cooperation with Editora Melhoramentos, a Brazilian publishing company, the Foundation seeks to encourage our leaders of tomorrow to be creative and wonder free, through the Global Thinking Initiative. “The initiative provides bilingual activities and the distribution of Michaelis educational dictionaries to schools, communities, and partner entities. In Brazil alone, the cities of Aracatuba, Campinas, Limeira, Ribeirao Preto, São Jose dos Campos, Campo Belo  (MG) and Rio de Janeiro will be positively impacted”, told the project coordinator, Carla Michaelis.

To learn more about the Michaelis Foundation and its activities, including the partnership with Editora Melhoramentos, please go to: http://www.michaelisfoundation.org/
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- Luma Keily
MFGE International Correspondent

Biologist with an extension in astrophysics, journalist, and writer. Rodson Morais, professor and one of the administrators the Orion Astronomy Center in Brazil, has been in love with the world of science ever since he was 16 years old. "When I was a teenager, the vast majority of my friends wanted to have a band while I wanted to have a laboratory," he said.

At 43 years of age, Rodson remembers his trajectory, from academic to professional life, and discusses the importance that English had in his career. "A Michaelis dictionary was one of the books that could not be missing on any of our trips," said the pedagogue, who added that, at a time when there was no internet in Brazil, the dictionary was a major helper for research work. “English opened several doors for me and made it possible for me to do a much wider range of jobs,” he affirmed.

Through its activities, the Michaelis Foundation seeks to be part of the story of people like Rodson who, with determination and focus, go after their dreams. “It is testimonies like this (Rodson´s) that make us sure that we are following the right path. We always have in mind the purpose of, through bilingual education, opening new horizons and reducing the frontiers for knowledge”, revealed the founder of the Michaelis Foundation, Jefferson Michaelis. Motivated, Rodson's future goal is “to take a good course to recycle my knowledge of the language and reach proficiency in English”.

To further encourage bilingual learning, in 2021 the Michaelis Foundation, with support from Editora Melhoramentos, started the Global Thinking project. The initiative provides bilingual activities and the distribution of Michaelis educational dictionaries to schools, communities, and partner entities. In Brazil, in collaboration with regional partners such as the ORION Astronomy club of Minas Gerais (@orionclubedeastronomia), activities are planned in 10 Brazilian cities.

If your story is similar to Rodson´s, share it with us: http://www.MichaelisFoundation.org/contact
 
- Luma Keily