We are now going to the final week of lessons offered to a group of citizen journalists from peripheral areas of São Paulo, that have become the first wave of trainees of the "Mural" project.

On Saturday, the 17th, the trainees had, amongst other tasks, to point out the inaccuracies, deliberate omissions and inversions of a news story about the project to build a stadium in the region of Pirituba, a borough in the outskirts of São Paulo, for the 2014 World Cup.

The idea was to see if the group had the eagle eye required to spot those various mistakes, by matching the incorrect with the correct version, a story originally published in the "O Estado de São Paulo" newspaper.

But the entire "Mural" staff honored the challenge and performed quite well.

We also have a lecture by reporter Kívia Costa, from the country's largest news radio, CBN. She spoke about her career and social the social projects that she developed still as a student, at the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), with Projeto Redigir, aimed at improving the writing skills of youngster from poor backgrounds.

Kívia's words struck a chord amongst many of the students present. She told us that she had also faced hurdles and had to overcome social barriers in order to become a student at USP, one of the best educational institutions in the country, and a CBN reporter.

She's from a poor family in the countryside of Minas Gerais state.

Some of her comments summarize what we aim to accomplish with "Mural".

In Kívia's view, "it is essential to mobilize," and, since journalists from the traditional media don't get to spend much time in peripheral areas, it is necessary to present stories that receive marginal attention from big news outlets. "We must call attention to themselves", Kívia remarked.

We also had time to enhance works on the different videos, discuss the stories the students have pitched and exchange a few ideas on those topics.

We'll conclude our tasks with the current group next Saturday, when the students will show their final works, watch lectures, take part in a final leaving due and be handed diplomas honoring their participation in the course.