Ashley and Erikka teach indoor volleyball skills with young participants in Joao Pessoa.

From August 11-17, 2008, ECA Sports Envoys Erikka Gulbranson and Ashley Dean taught volleyball skills to young Brazilians in Recife. The two collegiate coaches gave clinics for over 1,200 Brazilians, including public and private school children, university athletes, and members of a Brazilian professional team. The U.S. Consulate collaborated with Coca-Cola’s Corporate Social Responsibility Division on visits to public schools in Cabo and Joao Pessoa, plus a beach volleyball tournament where the two envoys teamed up with local coaches for a full day of friendly competition involving over 125 Brazilian youths. As a result of the camaraderie generating by the event, the envoys committed to help the local women’s professional team, Sport, arrange a university tour in the United States.

An interesting program twist was the reaction of the young people who attended the closing beach volleyball tournament. Though always living within miles of the beach, most of the program participants had never visited it. One boy hit the beach in front of the big banner erected by the Consulate and exclaimed, "Sim! Essa é a MINHA praia!" ("Yes! This is MY beach!") His joyful statement had double meaning: "Yes! Sports and Education is my passion," but it also expressed his pride that Boa Viagem Beach was HIS beach and that he had the right to be there.