Paulo Rodrigues: When Education and Love Go Hand in Hand

Brazil’s Patron of Education, Paulo Freire, always said “You can’t talk about education without love”. Its exactly “love” that Paulo Rodrigues eminates as the Coordinator of the Mentoring and Skills Training Project. When he studied and graduated in Pedagogy (Education) he always knew that he wanted his work to be vocational, directed towards social transformation and helping educate those who are socially vulnerable. 

He reminisces, “16 years ago I started working with Instituo Solidare when  I was still studying.  I fell in love with the work and the people delivering it through their church which was constantly looking out for its community”. 

Before he graduated he managed to get a student grant to study administration, a qualification which really helped him in his role to become the present Training Coordinator.

Paulo says “ My story with Instituto Solidare began in 2014. I didn’t really want responsibility for a new project. I was really comfortable in my old role. Chris said to me “We’ve got this opportunity, you’ve got the skills to deliver the work. If you don’t say yes then the moment will pass us by”.

This conversation helped him consider that his love for education and its power to transform lives should be his guide and principal motivation.  He accepted the new role. 

In 2019, the project experienced a lot of financial difficulties which made him question whether his commitment and dedication over the last four years had been  worthwhile or even enough. In 2020 he found renewed hope when Happy Child International became a financial partner with the project and is still supporting it today. 

The new relationship felt like an answer to prayer. It enabled him and the team to continue their vital and important work of tranforming young people’s dreams into reality.

Paulo says “Happy Child International has this ability to support, to be professional and yet to care for individual lives.  I find this way of working very compelling”.

Delivering its work with love and care enables the Mentoring and Training Project to remain in contact with its past trainees. Annual reunions are set up for them to share their progress and development. 

Paulo shares “This ongoing contact is very positive for me and for the trainees.  From time to time they will drop in and see us for a coffee”  As Paulo says “I learned to be professional, but I also learned to mentor.  I’ve learned to contribute something to the lives of individual young people” 

We can evaluate that Paulo Rodriguez puts into practice what his namesake says “Love and Education need to travel the same road”. This is a beautiful thing to see.  

• Written by Eduarda Teixeira