Our Voices

Young Peacebuilders is a youth-led organization which empowers students to promote a culture of peace and wellbeing in school environments through dialogue, empathy, and leadership. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute partnered with the organization on the co-creation of mental health modules aimed at supporting peer-to-peer mental health promotion. These modules, designed as a foundation for school-based activities, served as a guide for students like Gilmar and Maria as they developed and implemented their own initiatives. Both students were active participants in the training and continue to exemplify the power young people hold in driving positive change when given the right support and opportunities.

Maria, from Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, became involved in the initiative after learning more about its purpose and vision within her school community. She quickly recognized how closely it aligned with her personal aspirations. Maria also hopes to become a teacher in the future and is deeply committed to supporting the expansion of access to education. For her, participating in this initiative meant experiencing school not only as a student but as someone working alongside teachers to create meaningful change.

By engaging closely with staff and school leadership, Maria and Gilmar became deeply invested in the process, valuing the opportunity to actively help shape a more supportive school environment.

Gilmar was a high school senior at Colégio Estadual Professora Venina Corrêa Torres, located in Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, when he began developing the school-based initiatives. He consistently integrated mental health promotion into everyday school life throughout the entire academic year.

Here, they jointly reflect on their journey and the impact they’ve already had on the community.

By Gilmar Suzula Faber Junior and Maria Eduarda de Lima Souza

Being part of the Young Peacebuilders organization and taking part in the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute’s training to develop mental health modules in Brazil, showed us that schools can do much more for our mental health than simply talking about it.

Schools can create real spaces for support, belonging, and emotional growth.

It all started with a sports club, which engaged over 70 students in volleyball and basketball. Our school already valued sports, but the club brought a new kind of energy. Sports practices became a safe space to release stress. We were not only training our bodies but also strengthening our connections with others. We learned to trust, to cheer, and to show up for one another, both in victory and defeat.

Then came the theater club, a creative space that allowed more than 100 students to explore and express themselves. We saw classmates who had once been too shy to speak in class step onto the stage with confidence and joy. Theater became a space where it was okay to make mistakes, improvise, and laugh freely. That sense of freedom had a meaningful impact on our self-esteem and sense of identity.

We also created the Opportunity Wall, which initially seemed like a simple bulletin board but gradually became a source of inspiration. We used it to share information about academic competitions, exchange programs, and international projects. Seeing students stop in the hallway to read the flyers and imagine new possibilities made it clear that hope for the future is a powerful tool for mental wellbeing.

Being a young leader is not about titles or recognition. It is about noticing when something needs to change, bringing people together, and having the courage to act. In that process, we begin healing as well.

Additionally, we ran a donation campaign, during which we collected food and diapers. What touched us most, however, was visiting a nursing home. We not only brought supplies, but also conversation, laughter, and connection. That experience reminded us that when we give time and presence to others, we also care for ourselves. Giving back helped us feel that we mattered and that we could make a difference.

In the end, we learned that caring for youth mental health starts with listening, creating space, and taking action.

Gilmar Suzula Faber Junior is an 18-year-old student from Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, and a recent graduate of Colégio Estadual Professora Venina Corrêa Torres, a public high school. Passionate about science and theater, he enjoys spending time with friends and playing volleyball.

Maria Eduarda de Lima Souza is a 17-year-old high school student from Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She plays volleyball and track and enjoys racing, reading, and cooking with friends and family.