Alice Pereira da Silva

The initiative I founded and designed, Agente Jovem, was internationally recognized and selected as one of only four institutions in Brazil invited to join the 3ZERO Club, a global movement led by an initiative from Bangladesh. As part of the 3ZERO Club ambassadors in Brazil, I represent the sustainability cause through Agente Jovem, supporting the mission to achieve zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions. This recognition not only highlights the global relevance of our work but also allows me to actively engage with an international network committed to driving meaningful social and environmental change.

In 2023, I founded Agente Jovem, a youth-led organization created to democratize access to academic opportunities and extracurricular activities. I have always believed that the holistic development of students goes beyond the formal school environment and that extracurricular experiences play a crucial role in enriching education. Guided by this mission, Agente Jovem empowers and mobilizes young people from around the world in support of education and positive societal change through the dissemination of knowledge, helping them discover their purpose. Through weekly newsletters (250+ subscribers), exclusive workshops focused on university admissions, and a range of clubs, including college application support, political studies, journalism, creative writing, and book discussions, we help young people (and adults!) explore their passions, build essential skills, and grow as engaged, conscious global citizens prepared for higher education and the job market. Agente Jovem plays a meaningful role in helping youth unlock and develop their full potential, contributing to the emergence of a more conscious, engaged, and equitable society, not just as agents of change, but as Young Agents. To date, we’ve impacted more than 6,000 young people through our initiatives—and we’re just getting started!

As Vice President of Instituto Todas, I coordinate the internal team and volunteers, establishing strategies across departments, onboarding new members, and offering ongoing support through regular meetings. I was the first and only member to establish a permanent partnership with a local shopping mall, resulting in the donation of over 900 sanitary pads to women’s shelters in São Paulo. I continue to mentor and support members to pursue similar impactful initiatives. Previously promoted to Vice Director while working as a designer, I now oversee a team of 5 media producers and 2 designers, and represent the project in international spaces, including the Civil 20 (C20) engagement group. I’ve been invited to speak at Belas Artes University to 40 International Relations students and have given lectures at three public events focused on menstrual poverty, advancing conversations on gender equity and access to hygiene resources.

Selected as one of ~70 scholars from a pool of more than 10,000 applicants across Brazil, the Prep Program holds a 0.7% acceptance rate and is among the country's longest-running and ultra-competitive College Access Programs. Backed by Fundação Estudar's 30-year legacy as a leading educational non-profit, the Prep Program provides expert counseling, mentorship, and access to an extensive alum community, all at no cost to scholars.

As an independent researcher, I explored the effectiveness of the traditional Brazilian education system in preparing students for success in holistic international university admissions, particularly in the United States. My research included an interview with Vitor Lacerda, a PhD student in Linguistics at NYU, whose academic insights added valuable depth to the study. I also surveyed 37 high school students intending to apply to U.S. universities, gathering firsthand perspectives on the challenges they face. The project revealed a significant gap between the national curriculum and the skills valued in international admissions, such as self-reflection, extracurricular engagement, and interdisciplinary thinking. This work reflects my commitment to educational equity and my interest in how global systems can better support student access to international opportunities.

As Media Director at Girl Elza Pacheco, I led content strategy and coordination, managing a team of 8 members to consistently deliver engaging and informative weekly content. I organized over 100 Instagram posts (reaching more than 2,000 views) and coordinated the planning and distribution of weekly publications. Beyond digital media, I represented the team in meetings and coordinated external events to expand our reach. I also lead the organization of an Application Club to support students in their academic journeys and actively participate in social change training programs, including Preta Ministra and Seu Voto Importa, strengthening my commitment to civic engagement and youth empowerment.

During diverse and intense sessions, I had the pleasure to represent Brazil UNHCR and coordinate the Agente Jovem Delegation to Princeton Mun. It was a knowledgeable opportunity that had shaped me as a delegate and mun organizer.

The Civic Innovators Fellowship is an 8-week-intensive civic leadership program that prepares hundreds of civic-minded high school students each year with the knowledge and skills to produce novel solutions to well-defined community and societal problems. Over the course of the program, Fellows examine the most vexing problems facing the U.S. and the world and create solutions that bridge foundational principles with emerging technology and new schools of thought. They will also have the option to learn the fundamentals of personal development, systems thinking, democratic theory, and community building.

One of the main social arms of the G20, the Civil Society 20 (C20) aims to ensure that world leaders are attentive to the recommendations and demands of organized civil society. The group's principle is to “leave no one behind”. I had joined a Work Group in health and I was able to represent the interests of the Brazilian population regarding Universal Health Coverage and wrote a 6-page-document alongside other inspiring activists and community leaders, aiming for these proposals to be accepted by the Brazilian government and countries that are part of the G20.

Esummer is a two-week online program available to young people around the world that addresses topics such as sustainability and personal development and leadership. During this period, I was able to participate in lectures and give seminars and presentations about my country and my culture. Speaking to a youth leader and notable people in the area of ​​sustainability who are making a positive impact on the world we live in was certainly an inspiring journey and I will be taking all the knowledge I gained to reflect on all my projects in my academic journey from now on.