Founder of “Bora Lá Idiomas” in Itaguaí broadens the perspective of Ship Visitor course participants on career paths in the region
Choosing a career is one of the first major challenges in life, but young people do not always have the opportunity to explore different fields before making that decision. For many, experiencing real work environments and learning about existing opportunities can be the first step toward discovering new paths.
According to Cláudio Henrique Penha, founder and director of “Bora Lá Idiomas”, the initiative to expose participants to new professional possibilities emerged after a conversation with a 19-year-old student who, when asked about her career plans, did not know what to answer.
“At that moment, I first blamed the student, then I blamed her parents, and finally I blamed myself. I realized that schools and education have a responsibility to introduce young people to the professional world. Before choosing a profession, students need to learn about the different opportunities that exist,” says Cláudio.
This reflection led to the idea of connecting students with different work environments. As part of one activity, the group had the opportunity to explore Porto Sudeste’s operations firsthand and learn about the importance of maritime logistics to the region’s socioeconomic development.
“Introducing them to this industry and showcasing the opportunities offered by a company that, beyond its business operations, engages responsibly with the sea was the main objective of this experience,” he explains.
Karoline Reis, one of the students, said the visit transformed the way she thinks. “Seeing firsthand how one of the largest private iron ore export terminals operates only reinforced how important port logistics is for Brazil. I was impressed by the infrastructure, the technology, and the professionalism of the teams. It was an experience I will carry with me for life, both because of the knowledge I gained and the warm welcome we received,” she says.
For Cláudio, exposing young people to different realities is a fundamental part of education. Inspired by the ideas of educator Jean Piaget, he believes that experiencing new contexts helps students build knowledge and make more informed decisions about their future.
According to him, one of the initiative’s main outcomes is encouraging students to develop the confidence needed to pursue their goals. When discussing this idea, he refers to the well-known phrase by former U.S. President Barack Obama: “Yes, I can.”
“When we look at his journey, his struggles, and the obstacles he overcame, we understand that the best translation of the verb can is not simply ‘to be able to,’ but ‘to succeed.’ I want my students to be able to say: ‘Yes, I can do it,’” he concludes.
* This text has been translated using AI.
