Vitor

Farming is a way of life for the 3,000 residents in Atalanta, a small town located along the Atlantic Forest. However, Vitor notes that most farmers are generally unaware of the importance of preserving the forest and natural resources on their property. To change farmers’ practices, Vitor recognized the powerful influence of young people to promote environmental sustainability. Vitor and his friends came together to carry out environmental projects through their venture, Plantando o Futuro, in their school, such as planting trees or maintaining the gardens. After affecting change within their school, more students joined in and the project gained the support of the school board and later an environmental NGO in the municipality. Through partnerships with environmentalists and forestry professionals, students in the organization engage in ongoing training and workshops to further their environmental knowledge and strengthen their projects’ sustainability efforts. So far, Plantando o Futuro has carried out more than 100 actions, encouraging environmental preservation and the changemaking of the young people involved. In addition, they work to recover degraded natural areas. They already planted more than 4000 seedlings.