João Marcos Almeida dos Santos

João Marcos Almeida dos Santos, 18, is the winner of the SSI Competition that was announced at the inaugural 2025 Global Summit on Youth Mental Health hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute. A high school student from Arapiraca, Brazil, he is passionate about technology and activism — driven by curiosity and a constant desire to help others through education-focused causes.

Throughout his young career, João Marcos has been a part of impactful organizations such as Ashoka Young Changemakers and has received awards, like The Earth Prize, for his work. He has developed a platform designed to support socially vulnerable youth through educational access, alongside creating environmental and educational solutions.

João Marcos aims to leverage technology as a tool to create a positive impact wherever he goes.