My name is Gabriela Santiago, I’m 18 years old and I’m from Contagem – MG, Brazil. I currently study at the Federal Institute of Minas Gerais – Campus Betim and take a technical course in Industrial Automation. I love technology and discovering new things, my favorite subject is physics and whenever I can I’m researching astronomy. As a lover of everything that involves science and as a citizen in training, I believe that contributing to the preservation of the planet is an obligation for all human beings, since everything we owe to where we came from. Volunteering is something that makes me feel very good, helping people is very pleasurable and I believe that we all have something to donate, whether it’s material goods or our time and attention. I’m currently in the process of becoming a vegetarian and when I’m not studying, I like listening to music, reading a book, or watching a movie. I am a very open person to change and I think that everything that is different has something that can be learned. I also like meeting new people and listening to good stories. A phrase that inspires me would be:
Don’t wait for great leaders; do it yourself, person to person. Be loyal to small actions because that’s where your strength lies. – Mother Teresa
“Generosity, to me, is the ability to put aside our own interests in order to help someone else, without regard to their background or beliefs.”
Brazil is a place blessed by God, thanks to its Belos Horizontes and its great diversity. But this has changed over the years. There are many burnings, most of which are of criminal origin. One of the causes is that during basic education, many Brazilians do not learn about sustainability, environmental education, and awareness of our duty as citizens to conserve conservation areas. This is one of the reasons for the creation of the “change box” project and its name, since our main action is to collect tetra pak boxes and use them to plant seedlings in areas affected by fires. We also collect recyclables and promote environmental awareness, donate food baskets to needy families, sanitary pads for street shelters and orphanages and, in the future, we will present these actions in public schools in Minas Gerais. Viola Davis says, “All you have to do is move people around a bit to make the change happen. It doesn’t have to be huge.” Our other goal is to provide volunteer opportunities, encouraging everyone to participate in philanthropy and contribute to change.
