Bridge Sponsors Brazilian Student to Study in Denver through UP with English Program

Gilmario Lima, a young student from Rio de Janeiro, is getting ready for the trip of a lifetime. Gilmario will travel to the United States as part of the UP with English Program, an English language program created by the US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro. The program aims to promote English among young students in the pacified favelas of Rio, preparing them for English-speaking job opportunities in the growing Rio market.

Gilmario was selected to study in Denver as the winner of a special scholarship offered by Bridge that will pay for his airfare, host family, laptop, camera, winter clothes, expense stipend, and English language course. Gilmario is the second Up with English student to visit Denver on a Bridge-sponsored scholarship; in 2013, Andressa Christina da Silva was the first student to receive the honor.

“We are thrilled to sponsor Up with English students at our language center here in Denver. The program supports an important part of our mission: transforming lives through language, education, and culture,” said Jean-Marc Alberola, president of Bridge.

“English proficiency is a huge asset for finding employment in Brazil’s growing economy, and the fastest way for these students to learn is to spend time in an English-speaking country,” explains Monica Szwarc, director of Bridge in Brazil.

Gilmario loves soccer and considers himself a true “Carioca,” or Rio native. He has never traveled outside of his country or seen snow and is looking forward to his experience in Denver, although he will miss the holidays in Brazil. He enjoys learning English and his comprehension is improving but he is still a bit shy when speaking and hopes to gain confidence by studying in the United States.