We embarked on a journey of exploring multiculturalism in Sakai City as we gathered in a classroom to listen to Ms. Luzia Tanaka’s introduction to Projeto Construir Artel (PCA). She elaborated on the challenges faced by Brazilian immigrants living in Japan, especially since the 1990s focusing mainly on linguistic and cultural barriers, education, maintaining a connection with Brazil and the Portuguese language, and the various efforts undertaken to assist this community. Through a series of courses and activities such as Portuguese language classes for elementary students and weekend study sessions, PCA is committed to helping Brazilians integrate and survive in Japan.

　Over three days we were invited to Luzia's home, which also serves as the PCA’s facility to watch related videos about the work of PCA, interact with some members of the community, and taste delicious Brazilian cuisine, experiencing warm hospitality. We met with families interacting with the children, teenagers, and adults introducing ourselves, exchanging ideas, sharing about our cultures. In the evening, we made Brazilian specialty dishes together and enjoyed dinner, conversations, more games, and laughter.

　The activities at PCA and the connections we made further deepened our understanding of the complexity of identity recognition. Through interaction and cultural exchange with Brazilian children, we realized that identity recognition is a dynamic process influenced by the surrounding environment and interactions with others. We learned the importance of inclusiveness and respect for different identities, as well as promoting the construction and development of identity recognition through mutual understanding and communication. This experience not only made us more confident in facing our own identity recognition but also expanded our horizons, enabling us to embrace and be open to the existence of different cultures and identities.

　We also realized an important truth: multiculturalism is the wealth of society, and only through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation can we achieve social harmony and progress. With deep insights into SDGs and identity recognition, we will continue to move forward with hope and confidence, striving to contribute to building a more inclusive, harmonious, and sustainable world.