Brazilian Teacher Wins Award In UAE

(MENAFN- Brazil-Arab News Agency (ANBA)) São Paulo – Brazilian educator Débora Garofalo, known for her innovative approach to teaching robotics, was named Global Teacher Influencer 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Monday (2). In an interview with ANBA, Garofalo said winning the award was a mix of emotion, gratitude, and responsibility.“I felt I was representing not only my work but Brazilian public education, the teachers who persevere daily, and my students.”

The award is given by the Varkey Foundation, which also organizes the Global Teacher Prize, for which Garofalo was a finalist in 2019-a milestone in her international career. Unlike the Teacher Prize, however, the award Garofalo received this week is not a competition with finalists or applications-it is a unique recognition granted to a global educator for the reach, relevance, and consistency of their educational work shared online.

DAccording to Garofalo, the award recognizes a teacher who uses social media and digital platforms to extend the impact of education beyond the classroom, positively influencing students, teachers, and communities. The Varkey Foundation selects the winner based on educational impact, consistency, engagement, and the social purpose of the content produced. Garofalo received the award at a gala dinner.

Garofalo began gaining recognition as an educator through a project using scrap materials in robotics education.“It started in a public school in São Paulo, in an area marked by social inequalities and environmental issues, especially illegal waste disposal,” she explains. The idea was to turn discarded materials into learning tools, using robotics to foster critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and environmental awareness.

Students built prototypes like cars, boats, planes, and other devices, combining technology, sustainability, and student leadership, according to Garofalo. Over time, the project evolved, incorporating new technologies, methodologies, and reach, but kept the principle that quality education can be delivered with limited resources, as long as there are pedagogical intentionality and social commitment, the educator explains.

Once established in the school, the project became a Brazilian public policy, implemented in 5,400 schools and reaching 3.7 million students. It was showcased at educational events, teacher training sessions, fairs, conferences, and institutional spaces in Brazil and elsewhere.“It also contributed to curriculum debates, especially in technology and innovation, influencing public policies and pedagogical practices across different education networks,” she says.

Garofalo: Education and innovation

Garofalo has visited the UAE several times for awards, educational events, conferences, and meetings organized by the Varkey Foundation and GEMS Education. She says these experiences enabled valuable exchanges with educators from various countries and opened doors for international dialogue on education, innovation, and sustainability. Sunny Varkey, founder of Varkey and GEMS, is a UAE-based entrepreneur. While Garofalo has not yet developed a continuous project or formal collaboration with institutions in the UAE or other Arab countries, she says the connections made have created important opportunities for future partnerships.

Speaking to ANBA about her motivation, Garofalo says she wants to continue showing that public schools are spaces of potential, creativity, and transformation.“I want to keep expanding the reach of projects, inspiring other educators, advocating for teacher recognition, and reinforcing the idea that education is the most powerful tool to transform realities-both in Brazil and worldwide,” she says. Regarding the award, Garofalo adds that it is not a destination, but an incentive to keep moving forward, learning, and fighting for a fairer, more humane, and transformative education.

Read more:
Private sector helps Iraq expand education

Translated by Guilherme Miranda

SuppliedSupplied

The post Brazilian teacher wins award in UAE appeared first on ANBA News Agency.

MENAFN04022026000213011057ID1110696304