Special meeting: Ana Elisa Caron conversation with Olympic champion Joaquim Cruz, and gets emotional.

"Today I returned to the Olympic Center in Chula Vista for a very important meeting: I was greeted by Olympic champion Joaquim Cruz. He won first place in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and was medalist at the 1988 games in Seoul.

Currently, Joaquim is coach of the United States of Paralympic athletics team. It's not every day is an Olympic medalist and can exchange some ideas with him!

Today's visit was more relaxed, more Brazilian and filled heat good stories of the life of an athlete and as successful coach. I really enjoyed understand how routine an Olympic and Paralympic athlete, and how the whole structure of the sports center works to provide athletes the best conditions to get on the podium.

The conversation was relaxed and the time passed quickly. Humility of Joaquim Cruz is remarkable and captivating in the first minutes of conversation. It is the talent and the Brazilian competence helping to develop the potential Americans.

Kisses,

Ana Elisa. "

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here .

Ana Elisa Caron, project analyst of the Institute Share, visit the Team USA Olympic Training Center.

"Hello guys,

How are you? Today was a really nice day. I visited the Team USA Olympic Training Center here near San Diego. The place caters to various sports such as archery, beach volleyball, BMX - BMX, canoeing, cycling, field hockey, rowing, rugby, soccer, tennis, athletics and triathlon. In addition to the sports facilities, athletes also have dormitories, restaurant and any medical care needed to develop their potential. The structure is also used by Paralympic athletes.

The Olympic Center has a great relationship with Brazil. The Brazilian team of BMX, for example, uses the structure available to train, and the Brazilian Olympic champion Joaquim Cruz directs the athletes here in San Diego.

Brazil's flag is always flown here, as the next Olympic Games will be in brazilian lands, right next to the US flag.

Being in a fully dedicated structure to Olympic sport is very exciting for all who work with sports. In my case it was no different. I enjoyed every moment and would like to be still there, following the complete routine of athletes and coaches.

See you later!

Ana ".

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here .

Children attending school in the PLAY project

"Hello guys,

How are you?

Today was a day of hard work, but also very profitable. I visited the Hancock Elementary School here in San Diego, where the project PLAY (Physical Learning Activities for Youth) is performed. I could see in practice how are the basic motor skills development activities as launching and receiving, jumping, running, etc. It was interesting to observe in practice all the features Aldo Gonzalez, program coordinator, had told me in a meeting.

For Aldo, the 'secret' of the program is in appreciation of the instructor so that it meets the students very well, simple materials, but quality and constant evaluation. It was very positive exchange information and see that all these 'secrets' are present in the work of the Institute Share ".

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here .

Ana Elisa Caron, project analyst of the Institute Share, visit one of the YMCA headquarters and has the opportunity to follow basketball classes in adapted blocks.

"That was my first week in direct contact with the different offices of the YMCA (YMCA - YMCA, in Portuguese). I visited two of them, the Rancho Family and Mission Valley.

After these last seven days, I can say that I understand better how the alloys of YMCA. There are approximately ten sessions of lessons and games of different types and with children of various age groups. Classes are held during the week and games on Saturdays. The rules and the field size or height basketball hoop, for example, are adapted according to the age of the children - a bit like what the Institute Share makes a volleyball net. But what is striking is the involvement of the family, coming to the games on Saturdays and participates very, strengthening the relationship between parents and children.

In addition to knowing more about the leagues also met PLAY (Physical Learning Activities for Youth), which takes place in schools near the YMCA. The objective of this program is to teach basic motor skills for students who do not have physical education class. In addition, I met more details PRYDE (Prevention, Recreation, Youth, Diversity and Education) and the Prime Time, both afterschool programs.

I could talk with the heads of these programs and found that concern about teacher training, and how to keep them motivated students, it is very similar to the Institute Share.

To end the week, on Saturday night I went to a poker tournament, organized by YMCA Mission Valley to raise funds. It is very interesting to see community engagement in this type of question.

The week was pretty full, and the next promises to be even more. "

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here .

Ana Elisa Caron (right.), Project analyst of the Institute Share, knows her mentor in the US, Cristina Ballesteros, director of inclusion and diversity of the YMCA (YMCA in English).

"Hi folks,

How are you?

Today was the day to get to work ...

I arrived in San Diego last Friday and used the weekend to adapt. It is a huge city, the third largest in California. Besides knowing the reality of the city, I'm still getting used to the time zone, which is four hours less in relation to Brazil.

Today I met my mentor, Cristina Ballesteros, director of inclusion and diversity of the YMCA (YMCA in English). In addition, it also leads global initiatives with leadership development programs and three international partnerships.

I found it at headquarters (headquarters) of the YMCA. The expectation of finding her was huge and the first impression was very positive. Learn more the work of the association was very cool.

I also had the opportunity to talk with Baron Herdelin-Doherty, president and CEO of the local YMCA. He is bringing a different vision of unification and quality of all units of the NGO in the city. According to Baron, it is a slow process that requires investment and change in entity's culture.

There was also time to visit the headquarters Jackie Robinson YMCA, located in the same city.

Jackie Robinson was the first black player to join the official league baseball in the US, so his name has a very large representation, always connected to values ​​such as justice, determination and persistence.

I was impressed with the amount of activities that they develop and the goal is to integrate the whole family, always thinking of actions for parents and children.

Tomorrow I will go to another headquarters of the YMCA in Rancho Family. Let us know more about this institution present in different countries and how they work with the sport.

Kisses

Ana Elisa "

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here.

Latest activities in Washington DC: Ana Elisa prepares to continue the exchange in the YMCA (ACM) in San Diego, California.

"We had another very productive day at the office of Partners of the Americas in Washington. Throughout the morning, we conducted a study on leadership and reflect on how our values ​​influence the way we lead. The moment of reflection was very helpful for everyone and showed what our positive features and what we need to improve. In addition, it was revealed as the formation of a well-balanced team working is fundamental to the success of an organization.

In the afternoon we visited the entrance to the White House and recorded the time. We saw the escort convoy of President Barack Obama, as we were returning from the tour to the monuments of Washington.

Tomorrow I will go to San Diego, where is situated the organization that will receive me, the YMCA. I have a long flight of five hours there. I will cross the entire United States, leaving the eastern part going to the West Coast.

The next news will be directly from San Diego, California.

Kisses,

Ana ".

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here.

"Today I was watching for the first time live a football game: Washington Redskins x Seattle Seahawks (NFL champions)," says Ana Elisa (center).

"Today I was watching for the first time live a football game: Washington Redskins x Seattle Seahawks (NFL champions) .It was an incredible experience. In addition to knowing more about a sport that did not have much contact, was very interesting to see the organization of the show since the arrival of fans for the animation inside the stadium, and also how can two different twisted are sitting side by side on chairs with no problem or confusion.

The stadium is huge and supports 91,000 people. It was pretty full. Americans are really passionate about football and cheer a lot for your team. The game is a party entitled to band and cheerleaders. I was accompanied to the game other group members who are doing the exchange, and the knowledge of some of the sport was instrumental in helping me understand the movements taking place in the field.

Certainly, it was a lesson in how to organize a major sporting event, with a great structure, providing entertainment for all who were there. I really enjoyed the experience, although not rooting for any particular club, left the game very happy to have experienced a bit of American culture and to learn more about major sporting events. "

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here .

Ana Elisa participates in a meeting in the American NGO Partners of the Americas.

"Hello Everybody !!!

how are you going? lol opssss.

Okay out there? Today we started our work here in the office of Partners of the America - A very cool site by the way. We've talked to several people, they presented their projects and now the afternoon we are talking about our organizations.

In the evening we go to the football game the Redskins and Seahawks. Good thing the group has an expert in the sport because it will need to explain almost everything to me, lol.

Yesterday we were strolling in a park and we were playing frisbee (typically American). The problem was with the dinner and spicy food. The weather is good: cold mornings, warm afternoons and cool night. Ie well Curitiba!

Kisses and hugs. "

* Ana Elisa Caron is project analyst of the Institute Share and participates in the Sport program for the Community in the United States. The action of the US government in partnership with the NGO Partners of the Americas enables leaders to actions that benefit society. To learn more, click here .

Ana Elisa (background), project analyst of the Institute Share, meets with members of other institutions before leaving the United States.

On 1 October, Curitiba Ana Elisa Caron, 31, flew to the US to participate in Sport program for the Community, a US government action in partnership with the American NGO Partners of the Americas, which will train 15 young leaders between 20 and 35 years for training thought in actions that benefit society.

As a project analyst at the Institute Share, she expects to learn more about projects that join sports with education. "It will be a great opportunity to meet and find out more information about monitoring and evaluation of sports practice, the impact it causes on the students and the study of new methodologies in sports experiences," explains Ana already working with social projects for over 17 years.

In this first stage, which lasts six weeks, Ana takes part in training in Washington DC and follows to continue the activities at the YMCA (ACM) in San Diego - California, which extends its social projects knowledge. Then she returns to Brazil and will apply the knowledge acquired in projects of the Institute Share, accompanied by representatives of the US NGO.

The NGO Partners of the Americas, that just as the Share Institute integrates Sports Network for Social Change (REMS), received about 40 applications for the program and aims to promote sport as a tool for change among young people. Besides Ana Elisa, representatives of six other REMS member institutions also participate in the action, which continues with its activities until November 2015.