Beatriz L.

Born in a family of public-school teachers, Beatriz has always discussed community matters and diversity at her dinner table. At high school she began inquiring how she could improve the education system in a way that the voice of students would be heard. For Beatriz, most schools only care about preparing students for professionalization, without worrying about humanistic learning, and neglecting the critical knowledge conveyed by Sociology, Philosophy and History. Together with her friend Ingrid, she founded the Equity Project.

The project focuses on three main topics: race, gender and sex education. They promote workshops for kids at public schools, which encourage students to reflect on their identities, in order to create new possibilities for coexistence and dialogue. After the workshops, participants become multipliers of the experience, sharing what they have learned with other young people in other schools. The project also uses Instagram to disseminate content and promote lives on the topics that generate high interest, increasing outreach and impact. Beatriz works with a team of seven volunteers who share the main responsibilities of the project: communication, internal relations and research. The project is also supported by professionals with experience in studies of race, gender and sexuality, who act as counselors, helping to prepare contents and activities. The Equity Project has created safe environments for students to recognize and embrace diversity as a wealth, in addition to discovering their power as changemakers.