Cultural exchange among adolescents in São Paulo and in the Amazon, also known as the VLA Net program, contributes to broadening the eyes of adolescents of urban communities from the Southeast region and of rural communities in the Legal Amazon region, aiming to expand their perspectives of Brazilian reality, its different cultural expressions as well as creating awareness about the importance of the environment.

In 2011, Vaga Lume won the 4th place in the Intercultural Innovation Award (IIA), a partnership between the UNAOC and the BMW Group, among 400 entries from 70 countries. The issue highlighted was the aim of the Net Program to promote the cultural interchange among teenagers from different cultural and social backgrounds.

In 2012, adolescents aged 11 to 13 years will swap jobs with the theme "Our Environment", according to the following arrangement:

Exchange of jobs between Sao Paulo and Amazonia

Colégio Oswald and Santa Célia Settlement, Campinápolis (MT)
Colégio Santa Cruz and João Batista Settlement, Castanhal (PA)
Escola Vera Cruz and Community São Brás, Santarém (PA)
Anchieta Grajaú Institute (class A) and Community 28 Novembro, Ouro Preto do Oeste (RO)
Anchieta Grajaú Institute (class B) and Community Santa Rosa, Pacaraima (RR)
Gotas de Flor com Amor (class A) and Community 22 Dezembro, Ouro Preto do Oeste (RO)
Gotas de Flor com Amor (class B) and Community São José do Couto, Campinápolis (MT)

Exchange of jobs between Amazonia and Amazonia

Community Cupiúba, Castanhal (PA) and Santa Célia Settlement, Campinápolis (MT)
Community Bananal, Pacaraima (RR) and Community São José Couto, Campinápolis (MT)

Know the history of VLA Net, a program that promotes cultural exchange between children, adolescents and educators of Sao Paulo and the Amazon:

2011 - Camp and Committee

In 2011, 243 adolescents from different socioeconomic, cultural and regional profiles, from educational institutions of São Paulo and the Amazon signed up for the exchange. The Vaga Lume mediated exchange of jobs between classes and promoted the 2nd Camp Integration with 59 participants, inspired by experiences of integration childhood around the world, to promote culture of peace. Over the year, committees of educators were organized to strengthen the work in the institutions.

2010 - Exchange of work-letters Committee

In 2010, adolescents aged 10 to 13 years they exchanged work-letters with the theme "Our Environment".  The following institutions fromSão Paulo took part: Colégio Oswald, Fundação Julita, Gotas de Flor com Amo and Projeto Casulo. Participated in the Amazon: Murumuru Community, Santarém (PA); Cupiúba Community and João Batista II Settlement, Castanhal (PA), Santa Rosa Indian Community, Pacaraima (RR); Eliza Pedrosa School, Carauari (AM); 28 de Novembro Community, Ouro Preto do Oeste (RO).

During the year, there were three exchanges of materials. One teenager and educators, representatives from each institution and city met person at the 2010 Rede Committee, held in São Roque, between October 12th and 15th, where they shared experiences, presented papers and were enriched by diversity.

2009 - Systematization
Publication of first book “Cartas, Pontes, Novos Horizontes” on the cultural exchange between children and adolescents in the city of Portel, Para and the Vera Cruz School of São Paulo.
Workshop for the production of the second book “Nós e Nosso Meio Ambiente”, on cultural exchange between boys and girls Soure and Castanhal, in Para, and the Colégio Oswald  and the Anchieta Project, in São Paulo.

2008 - Exchange of Letters and Vaga Lume Camp
Vaga Lume Camp 2008, held in Pirenópolis (GO), brought together representatives of Soure and Castanhal, in Para, and Colégio Oswald and the Anchieta Project, in São Paulo.
 In that event, adolescents aged 10 to 13 years and educators from different cultures and social realities, could live together, meet the people who they exchanged letters with and, form this meeting onwards, build links. They could still submit the work-letters that were exchanged over the year.

2007 - Exchange of Letters and in person exchanges
8th and 7th Committee: Socialization and evaluation of State School Jardim Iguatemi and Colégio Oswald students; 6th Committee: Building the Action Plan for the municipalities of Castanhal, Soure and Portel.
Exchanges: Amazon> Sao Paulo: June - Representatives of Soure (PA) visited Colégio Oswald (SP); August - Representatives of Castanhal (AP) visited the State School Jardim Iguatemi (SP).

2006- Exchange of Letters and in person exchanges
5th Committee - July, São Paulo (SP)- 4th Committee -July, Belém (PA), 3rd Committee - May, Manaus (AM).
Exchange Sao Paulo> Amazonia: August - Representatives of the Colégio Oswald (SP) visited Soure (PA); August - Representatives of the State School Jardim Iguatemi (SP) visited Castanhal (PA); September - Representatives of School Vera Cruz (SP) visit Portel (PA).
Exchange Amazon> Sao Paulo: September-Representatives of Portel (PA) School visit Vera Cruz (SP).

2005 - Program Rede dos Vaga Lumes
A program that aims to promote cultural exchange between urban school communities from Southern and rural communities in the Brazilian Amazon, through representatives and the exchange of letters, materials and production between children and adults of different realities, aiming to expand knowledge about the complexity of the Brazilian society.

2003 - 2004 - Vaga Lume Campaign of Collection of New Books: Children of Sao Paulo send books to Vaga Lume libraries and exchange postcards with children in the Amazon.

2002 – Papel de Carta Project
Brought people of Sao Paulo and the Amazon"s rural communities together through the exchange of correspondence.