Education to know and change the world
Some people go through difficult times from a very young age. Family problems, illness, separation, poverty. Often the burden is heavy and some lose their way. Others find the strength to seek a better life with what they have in their hands. Mirella Martins, 17, found this strength in books and studies.
Born in the state of Ceará, Mirella has faced many challenges since she was a child. When she was just eight months old, she was left with her maternal grandparents so that her mother could try for a better life in São Paulo, some 3,000 km away from her homeland.
Mirella lived with her grandparents until she was 14. At that time, her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. In search of better treatment conditions, Mirella and her grandfather moved to São Paulo, where her mother lived with her eldest son and two other twins who were younger than the girl.
Reuniting the family brought new challenges. While her mother worked, Mirella stayed at home looking after her younger siblings and her grandfather, who needed to be on tube feeding. “I was a child looking after a sick adult and two small children,” she says.
During difficult times, Mirella found support and comfort in books: “I started reading of my own free will when I was 11. As I couldn't afford to buy physical books, I started reading through apps, in translated and adapted versions. When there were no translations, I tried to read the books in English, which motivated me to learn the language. One of my favorite books is 1984, by George Orwell”.
The year 2023 brings big changes. In February, his grandfather dies due to illness. Still in mourning, the family receives the news that Mirella's mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite so many worries and sorrows, one hope brings light and comfort to the family: Mirella has been accepted to be part of the Valiant Girls program.
“I was washing the dishes when a notification arrived that I had been included in a WhatsApp group. When I accessed it, it said 'Valiant Girls'. I called my mother. She stopped the motorcycle in the middle of the street and started crying. She said that I was very intelligent, that she trusted me and that I was her pride. She cried from there and I cried from here,” she recalls with a smile on her face.
Being part of the Valiant Girls program is an important step in the academic life and future professional career of Mirella, who wants to work in international relations.
“Valiant Girls helps me improve my English, which will certainly open many doors, and in my search for a quality education, allowing me to go to the college that will guide me in this direction.”
Mirella has been building this future with effort and dedication, which is made possible through the support and partnership of the Grieg Foundation.
Who: Children at Risk Foundation and Rede Cultural Beija-Flor
What: The VOA Project: Cultural activities and vocational training for children growing up in the Brazilian favela.
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