Brazilian Experience

Studying abroad isn’t just about crossing borders, it’s about expanding the way you see, feel, learn and engage with the world.

When you step into another culture, you stretch your perspectives and discover new ways of living.

It opens space for deeper curiosity, more empathy, growth and a sense of being human.

May every journey spark awareness and the imagination we need to help co-create a better world. 🌏

to our Festa Junina in 2018. Great times showing Brazilian culture and traditions to our exchange students!

Back from an energizing FAUBAI2025! Last week was filled with inspiring connections and great conversations about our role as international educators: How are we helping shape the kind of global citizens the world needs now?

Alongside Sebastian Fernandes, our partner in purpose, our founder Rafaela Rolim co-presented “Empowering Future Leaders: Cultivating Critical Awareness and Competencies for Sustainability”, an invitation to rethink how universities prepare students not just with knowledge, but with the leadership and critical thinking skills needed to drive real transformation in the face of today’s urgent challenges.

She the opportunity to share how we’ve been intentionally designing programs at Brazilian Experience that go beyond cultural exchange to cultivate global awareness and meaningful engagement with sustainability, inspired by the Inner Development Goals (IDGs). A moment when I felt truly aligned with my purpose: bridging International Education and Human Development to nurture future leaders capable of driving transformative change.

This year, sustainability was not just a topic, it was lived, and I was proud to see Brazil setting an example! Congratulations and Fixterra for measuring the events’ carbon footprint, adopting low-impact materials, and choosing a venue powered by 100% renewable energy, among many other initiatives. The SDGs were a topic from the opening plenary to the closing dialogue. Great to see this important and urgent discussion having more space in our field.

m

We’ll be presenting at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators 2025 Annual Conference & Expo in San Diego, CA this coming May!

Please stop by our poster titled “Inspiring Sustainability Action: Inner Development and Experiential Learning in Brazil”, on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT).

The poster shares how biology students explored pressing sustainability challenges in Brazil through hashtag hands-on hashtag conservation work, guided reflections, and meaningful community engagement, all within a program intentionally designed using the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) framework.

It was a powerful journey that deepened students’ self-awareness, expanded their understanding of global issues, and empowered them to take mindful, values-driven action. I’m looking forward to sharing this experience with the NAFSA community!

and thank you for our amazing collaboration!

In times of accelerating consequences of Climate Change, we need to slow down and reflect.

There is no Carbon neutral travel. We don’t have the technology. So we must face reality: we need to travel less and reinvent Study Abroad.

In a world where growth defines success, discussing degrowth remains a challenge. But it raises critical questions:

- What do we truly need?
- What benefits society?
- How much should we be traveling?
- Travel for what purpose?

Which programs genuinely serve society? Which empower students, future leaders, to build regenerative solutions instead of perpetuating business as usual?

Today, I’ll be presenting for .global alongside and about our faculty-led program for biology students.

Our approach is clear: reimagine Study Abroad to deepen awareness, explore different mindsets, and drive real solutions.

I’ll also share how the have inspired our program design.

These are the programs worth promoting. If this resonates with you, join us!

 Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025
 Time: 10:30 AM (Pacific) / 1:30 PM (Eastern)
 Where: Zoom

Send us a message and we will send you the link for registration.

🌊🐢 Did you know only 10% of marine turtles survive to adulthood?

That’s something our students from learned while in Brazil.

These incredible creatures face countless dangers on their journey, and many don’t make it to the stage where they can reproduce. Among the main causes of death are plastic pollution and getting trapped in fishing nets. 🧴♻️🎣

We are the main cause of this crisis, but awareness is the first step to finding solutions. 💡

By changing our behavior: reducing plastic use and supporting sustainable fishing practices, we can help turn the tide for marine turtles and protect their future. 🙌💚

What steps will you take today to help? Let’s act now! 🌱

to May and a very special program designed for the students, our dear partner for 10 years already.

We are getting old indeed, but more and more aligned with our purpose and the impact we want to leave in the world.

This itinerary was customized for biology students who spent 9 days in the beautiful island of Florianópolis, learning more about it’s ecosystem and engaging in hands-on experiences to learn by doing.

For experiential education to be effective, hands-on experience was combined with targeted and intentional reflection. Reflective practice allows for introspection on challenges and key learnings, creating opportunities to increase knowledge, develop skills, and clarify values.

Now that our peak season is over we will start sharing more about what happened this past few months when we were focused in supporting our students.

Exchange programs offer participants a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture, often with a defined start and end date. However, the experiences gained, the knowledge acquired, and the friendships formed during these programs extend far beyond their official timeline. The bonds created often evolve into lifelong connections, and the lessons learned continue to shape personal and professional growth for years to come.

Proof of that was meeting during her visit to Tiradentes this weekend. She was an intern at (Creative Week of Tiradentes), an initiative that, among other things, hosts an annual event that celebrates the intersection of tradition and innovation in design and craftsmanship. This week-long festival brings together designers, artisans, and creative enthusiasts to explore new ideas while honoring Brazil’s rich cultural heritage.

That’s how we co-create a better world: building bridges that inspire learning, collaboration, innovation and respect for diversity.

to 2010 and a World Cup with our exchange students in Brazil.🇧🇷

2011 and our first Faculty-led program in the Amazon.
Many things have changed in our forest since then.

The Amazon rainforest faces a pivotal crossroad. With ongoing pressures from deforestation, climate change, and industrial exploitation, its future hangs in the balance.

Despite conservation efforts and increased global awareness, the Amazon’s biodiversity continues to dwindle, impacting indigenous communities and the planet’s ecological stability.

Urgent action is needed to protect this invaluable ecosystem, ensuring its survival for future generations and the countless species that call it home.

What do you know about the Amazon?