Luiza Caleia
Brazil, 18
She/Her
Project: Tocando em Frente (TeF)
Since 2024, Luiza has represented her community’s environmental priorities at the state, national and international levels. These experiences revealed how rarely young people, those most affected by climate change, have a voice in shaping solutions, with only a third of Brazilian schools offering environmental education. As Sustainability Leader of Tocando em Frente (TeF), Luiza launched a national initiative to educate and equip public school students to protect their local biomes. Recognizing students’ need for post-disaster support, she also designed a methodology centered on healing and resilience. Luiza has personally taught 80 classes, mobilized young volunteers to collect 25,000 donations for post-disaster relief, and helped TeF expand to 35 schools serving 15,000 students. She continues to represent Brazilian youth in global spaces, advancing climate and gender justice at conferences like COP and the UN Commission on the Status of Women.