On her first Partners trip to Rio a few years ago, Mary Hilton, former President of Maryland Partners, met a young man named Jackson Vidal Maia. He was 10 years old at the time. In addition to volunteering with Partners, Mary runs the Kids for Peace Summer Camp in Maryland. Maryland Partners and Kids for Peace held a series of fundraisers to bring a small group of four students to Maryland to share Brazilian culture with the children of Kids for Peace. Kids for Peace teamed with Projeto Sape, a project in a poor neighborhood in the hills above Niteroi, to initiate this effort. Jackson was one of the four Brazilian kids selected to travel to Maryland. Jackson impressed everyone with his gentle spirit and eagerness to be part of Kids for Peace. Since that time, he has been a Kids for Peace counselor for four summers.
It was always hard for Jackson each summer at Kids for Peace, working with the other counselors who talked a lot about their college experiences at Boston University, University of Maryland, American University, and other institutions. None of the other camp counselors had the worry of how to pay for college. Sometimes Jackson would be angry that they didn't seem to appreciate it as much as they should. He knew there was little hope of him ever getting through college. Folks in Maryland looked for ways for him to study in the United States, but there just was not enough money for him. He returned to Brazil last September pretty much out of hope.
But folks in Rio Partners did not give up hope. Executive Director, Ron Hees, and Vice President Benno Sander, particularly, kept working for Jackson. They convinced La Salle College in Niteroi to grant Jackson a full scholarship. This just occurred. Jackson is now pursuing his BA in international relations there. Congratulations, Jackson!
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