The Issue
The issue
In Pernambuco, many public schools do not support the needs of their students. Girls face harassment from male peers and teachers discourage them from participating in traditionally male-dominated subjects like STEM. Schools are often not prepared or willing to help pregnant adolescents continue their education.
Paula’s approach
ResearchGrowing up in Bomba do Hemetério, Paula faced challenges to her education, including economic difficulties, racism and low quality education. These hardships inspired her to pursue work in the social sector as a pedagogue. For the past 18 years, Paula has worked with local education and activism organisations in Recife, Brazil. Between 2019 and 2022, Paula worked with Centro Dom Helder Camara de Estudos e Ação Social, an organisation that advocates for the rights of children and adolescents and mobilises civil society to take action in support of youth and the residents of largely populated settlements and quilombola communities.
With her Malala Fund grant, Paula advocated for public policies that address gender inequalities affecting girls’ retention in public schools of Camaragibe, Igarassu and Recife. Paula led a participatory research with girls about the impact of gender-based discrimination in schools and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their right to education. Mental health, racism and gender-based violence are among the key issues preventing girls from experiencing a safe environment in schools. Today, Paula is an educator and activist member of the Pernambuco Committee of the Brazilian Campaign for the Right to Education (BCRE).
More about Paula
There are 10 other Education Champions working in Brazil.
