Andressa Pellanda, Education Champion

Campaigning for more education funding and access for Black, quilombola and Indigenous girls

The Issue

The issue

Inadequate government funding for education in Brazil makes it more difficult for girls to access a quality education. Teachers in public schools in Brazil are underpaid and therefore less incentivised to continue on that career path. The economic issues in Brazil are closely linked to the cultural issues, which means that cycles of poverty create cycles of oppression and vice versa. With the economic crisis in the country worsening, girls in the poorest areas are disproportionately affected, especially girls in marginalised communities.

Andressa’s approach

Despite economic hardships, Andressa’s parents ensured that she and her brother could access public quality education. The importance and value of education instilled in her by her parents motivated Andressa to work in education. It was in her role as an intern for the National Campaign for the Right to Education that she learnt about education not as an authoritarian institution, but rather an inclusive opportunity for all people to learn.

Today Andressa is the general coordinator for Campanha, where she has made significant progress on education policy in Brazil. With her organisation, Andressa has campaigned to approve an amendment to the constitution that makes the main fund for basic education in Brazil better and permanent, and to ensure that the R$ 16 billion allocated for public education didn’t go to the private sector. She has also spoken out about measures for students to safely return to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andressa has also contributed to expanding the National Campaign for the Right to Education to all states in Brazil, reaching communities in great need for more access to education. With her Malala Fund grant, she will create a training agenda for the government to tackle how the intersections of gender and racial discrimination contribute to education inequality in Brazil. By advocating for more financial investment in public education, Andressa also hopes to expand access to education for Black, quilombola and Indigenous girls and individuals who have been excluded from the education sector due to poverty and racism.