Childrenspeaceprize

Mayra wrote the following about her experiences there:

In July 2010, I received a very cool news: I’d travel to South Africa to participate in discussions on the MDGs.
I was very happy, firstly because I would travel to the mainland that I most admire, the continent where my ancestry comes from. Secondly because I would participate in important discussions that may help many people, if satisfied.

Another thing that was really cool was the fact of meeting Thandiwe, who I already knew for some time, and Baruani, the last winner of the CPP, and that I had never known. We got on very well.

Having participated in the discussions on the MDGs, or any other, was very important to understand how policies are being developed in a comprehensive way. It is important that we young people participated in those discussions, exchange information, so that when we return to our realities can best contribute.

It’s always a pleasure to listen to the speeches of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. And for the first time, I heard Mrs. Mama Machel speaking. It conveys a lot of strength and energy that are essential for us to continue our struggle.

Walking through Soweto I immediately recognized my reality. It is very close to the slums of Rio de Janeiro. The slums are scattered fragments of Africa in the Diaspora!

In short, this trip was a great pleasure, where I could acquire skills to apply them and change the reality that thousands of black children live!