From the Favela to the streets of Manchester

by Francisco Hélton Barbosa Ferreira (Brazil)

A leap into the unknown United Kingdom

Hello, my name is Francisco Hélton, I'm from Brazil and i'm 18 years old. At first, I won a scholarship from the goverment of my Hometown (Fortaleza) they gave a scholarship to the 100 best students from public school. Anyway, I've been in England for 2 months (August - September) to study English. By the way, I'm a young poor guy who lives in a Favela, so, I had never been out Brazil before that. Then when I got in Manchester, I stayed in a host Family with a japonese student, and it was amazing because for the first time I was having touch with somebody from another country, and I began to. And I'm also have Anxiety, and I never had believed in my potencial. I mean, I was always saying I'm not able to anything. Because the place that I've grown up could make me feel like a limited guy, I did not believe in my potential. Because I'm black guy from Favela, even being inteligent I thought that I was nothing. But I only took 2 weeks studying English there and then I could I've got a good English, I could make friends, and I could find who I really am. I mean, I never had believe on me as I said, but being there I could put on my mind that EVERYTHING JUST NEED ME BELIEVING ON MY POTENTIAL. For the first time I thought I was going to be rejected by the British, because it was such a diferent culture. But the more I had contact with British culture, more I would knowing that there is a BIG WORLD beyond the favela, with new people, with new culture, new hobbies, new life style. Its helped me a lot, knowing a new culture made me grew up as a person. Therefore when I came back to Brazil, I started telling to the young guys who lives in a Favela that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE if they if you choose the right side. Going to School, studying, being such a nice guy, believing on themselves. because only the education can change the world. BECAUSE I'M A BLACK GUY FROM FAVELA WHO LIVED IN ENGLAND FOR 2 MONTHS JUST BECAUSE I STUDIED A LOT, I didn't belive on my potention but, MY CONNECTION WITH MANCHESTER COULD MAKE ME FEEL IT! Living with other cultures could open my mind and change my life, I'm such a new guy! And I'll do everything that I can do just to have this experience again, but unfortunally my economic situtation doesn't let me do it. But I'm at university right now, studying everyday because I want to change that situation through education. AND SAY TO ALL THE PEOPLE FROM FAVELA: YOU ARE NOT A LIMITED PERSON, YOU CAN DO IT!. Only my connection with Manchester made me found who I'm. I am so glad about the person that I've become after that!