At St. Paul’s Foundation, our scholars not only receive the opportunity of a brilliant education, but also the chance to expand their horizons through extraordinary experiences beyond the classroom. One such opportunity is participating in a summer course. Here, we share a few of the enriching journeys that some of our pupils had the chance to experience at Inteli Camp here in Brazil and other summer programmes outside of the country.
Inteli Camp
Nine scholars took part in the Inteli Camp, a five-day immersion programme offering pupils the choice between two pathways: Entrepreneurship or Technology. During the programme, participants formed groups within their chosen pathway and were challenged to develop a practical project, later assessed by professionals.
Manoela Xisto, Form 5 pupil and a participant in the Entrepreneurship pathway, described the experience as “an opportunity of great learning”. She highlighted the pride her group felt in seeing their project come to life VOXIE (A Voz do Povo), from the early stages of programming to the construction of the storytelling. Their hard work was recognised with the “Technical Complexity”, in addition to securing second place in the overall project ranking.
Another standout was our scholar Giordano, member of the group behind the project Gramalyzes. The proposal, aimed at analysing comments to improve business management, won first place in the main category of the general ranking. “Developing the product and presenting our pitch was a very enriching experience”, shared Giordano.
Other Foundation scholars, like Felipe e Valentina also described their satisfaction at stepping out of their comfort zones and presenting their projects to public figures like the influencer Manu Cit. “All steps of the project, from gaining insights based on the data analyses of Manu Cit’s profile to the final touches before the pitch, were very rewarding”, said Valentina. Arthur, on the other hand, highlighted the impact of the course on developing his public speaking skills and boosting his confidence.
The participation in Inteli Camp was, for all involved, a transformative experience. By combining theory, practice and real-world challenges, the programme provided technical, personal and collective growth.
Summer Courses outside of Brazil
Other scholars also took advantage of part of their holidays by attending courses around the world. Five pupils embarked on international journeys, exploring new horizons and enriching their academic experiences beyond the classroom.
Júlia Passos travelled to Washington to take part in a forensic science course at American University. She described the experience as extremely enriching, highlighting the opportunity to develop not only theoretical knowledge but also interpersonal skills. “Beyond the technical content, the course also focused on developing leadership and teamwork skills that pushed us out of our comfort zones, encouraged quick decision-making under pressure, and improved our communication.”
Fernanda and Catarina Muro went to the University of Oxford in England. Fernanda deepened her knowledge in architecture, while Catarina had the opportunity to study biotechnology, both experiencing an inspiring international academic environment that influenced her future career decisions. “I spoke with professionals in the field who were able to give me a better understanding of the career paths I intend to follow,” shared Catarina, who also received the honor of having her work recognized as the best written among those of her colleagues.
Fernando was also in Washington, where he attended a course on artificial intelligence at Johns Hopkins University. He described the experience as transformative and believes it will be key in opening doors in the future, just as his journey through the education offered by St. Paul’s has been so far.
Cláudia had the opportunity to take part in a course on Economics and Finance at Barnard College in New York. During the programme, she experienced both intense academic and social activities, highlighting cultural immersion as one of the most valuable aspects. “It was a wonderful chance to meet people from various countries, with cultures and customs completely different from my own. A true cultural exchange that left a deep mark on me,” she shared. At the end of the course, Cláudia received a surprise: she was awarded with the best academic performance for achieving the highest score among the participants. She said she was extremely happy and honoured by the recognition.
These transformative experiences are only possible thanks to the support of those who believe in the importance of our mission. Each donation we receive contributes directly to enabling our scholarship pupils to access opportunities for growth and learning inside and outside the classroom that are fundamental for them to pave their personal and professional paths.