Luiza G.

Ashoka Young Changemaker
Luiza Goncalves Soares
Brazil
Elected in 2021

About Luiza G.

Luiza offers and leads robotics classes in public schools within her city to expand access to opportunities for young people.

Luiza has been passionate about Physics, Mathematics, and Science since she was a child. Luiza later discovered Robotics, as it proved to be an opportunity that combined all of her talents. She joined her school’s Robotics club and even participated in science tournaments and fairs featuring team-developed robots. At one of these events, she noticed the delight of a group of young people from a neighboring public school in her city. Understanding that the reality of these young people does not allow them to have contact with robotics, Luiza encouraged three of her friends to create Reprogramando to create equal opportunities for all those interested. In turn, Reprogramando offers Robotics classes at a public school in her city. She sees teaching robotics as a learning driver that goes far beyond applied mathematics and physics. The project has structured courses that follow a defined sequence. The methodology used is based on showing how robotics is present in everyday life, as well as teaching the logic of programming and the software languages required by certain technologies. Luiza managed to encourage the director of her school to donate a robotics kit, but in addition to this resource, her team continues seeks low-cost methodologies to show that it is possible to teach robotics in an accessible way. More than 80 students have already been positively impacted by Luiza’s initiative in the past two years. During the pandemic, Luiza’s team is developing an exercise booklet for students to continue practicing until remote classes are suspended. Thus far, one of the results of the project is a growing interest in science and technology among girls, who are still dissuaded and discouraged from engaging in this type of content.