Acacia De Jesus Teles -Shuttle Time Teacher
Badminton Federation of Brazil
I come from a lower-class family. I studied in public school from elementary to higher education. During my childhood, the amusements were the games popuwith the children of the neighborhood, I only had contact with sport in the beginning of adolescence at school, and I started practicing late because I could not afford appropriate shoes to participate in sport.
Love at First Sight
I came across badminton during a course offered by my state’s Department of Education. It was love at first sight, I identified with badminton at the exact moment they described how the sport was, and I decided that it was ideal for my students, because it was dynamic, fun and motivational. The similarity of badminton with tennis, which is considered an elite sport, impressed me a lot, in addition to being a much more accessible sport to be introduced in the school environment.
It totally changed my professional career, I decided to invest in courses and promote
badminton in my state.
Memorable Moments
Representing Brazil at the international level allowed my public school students to participate in the World Schools Championships. This was memorable not only for me, but for the entire school community. Their participation in the ISF Badminton 2014 World Schools Championshipw in Taiwan was the biggest milestone of their lives.
Other memorable moments include participating in the National Games, Youth Games, Brazilian School Games and Brazilian congresses. They allowed me to meet incredible people through whom I acquired a lot of knowledge.
What Badminton Means
It is my universe, I feel totally fulfilled professionally, because I know that I can provide a better life for needy children, and also contribute to the fulfillment of the dreams of the less fortunate. Transforming lives through badminton is rewarding.
It is a very dynamic sport, requires a lot of agility and endurance, and can be played by women and men, both on the same side of the court. The only Olympic sport that uses a shuttlecock. These particulars define the sport.
When I introduced badminton at the Ivo do Prado State School, I was motivated by being able to promote to our students a non-traditional sport in Brazilian culture, expanding their body culture, working on different knowledge, movements and skills.
Developing Badminton in the Community
As it is a dynamic and motivational sport, I saw the opportunity to instil self-esteem in the students involved in the project, and allow the inclusion of young people and children with difficulties in other sports.
The acceptance, receptivity, and interest of the students was so great that it reached an enormous proportion, going beyond the school environment, infecting the entire neighborhood where the school is located. The children and young people began to practice on the streets where they live, with friends, neighbors, and relatives. This sport has freed many young people from conflict and marginalization.
Badminton, being a powerful tool for social transformation, increased these students’ self-esteem and self-confidence, stimulating socialization, communication, and socio-affective relationships.
Impact of Shuttle Time
In my city Shuttle Time opened up opportunities for both teachers and students. It helped the teacher with new knowledge, with effective planning and necessary material. Through Shuttle Time it was possible to promote badminton in my region.
Lessons from Shuttle Time
To achieve our goals, in addition to our availability and dedication, we need to acquire knowledge and good strategic planning, as well as a network of pedagogical support and material support that meets our needs. Primarily, we need to take into account the human ability with all their talent, potential
and limits.
