Raislúcio

Education changed Raislúcio's life, empowering his voice and providing him with the necessary knowledge to speak up about what he believes in. He was raised in an environment where the habit of reading was not encouraged, but his interest sparked after witnessing a friend's relationship with books. She faced challenges related to mental health and found emotional solace in books. During the early days of the pandemic, Raislúcio encountered similar difficulties and developed a reading habit himself. Recognizing the power of books to access new worlds and realities, he joined forces with other young people to create Leitura Ativa [Active Reading].

The initiative consists of two components: Mapeadores [Mappers] and the Book Club. In Mapeadores, the project team collects information about various public libraries across the country and shares it on social media platforms, allowing young people to discover these spaces where they can read for free, thereby promoting the democratization of reading. Additionally, there's the Book Club, an online space that is empathetic, respectful, and diverse, where young people from all over the country can engage in conversations, debates, and reflections about literature and the issues it presents.

The Leitura Ativa team comprises seven young individuals from different states in Brazil, who facilitate the Book Club meetings, maintain communication with participants and Mapeadores, and establish new partnerships for the project. In its first edition, the Book Club received 57 applications from all five regions of the country, and libraries have already been mapped in four of these regions. As next steps, Raislúcio intends to host online live sessions discussing topics such as bullying, gender equality, and racial issues through books, launch a new edition of the Book Club, develop an ambassador program, and create literature content for low-income youth preparing for college entrance exams.