Elida Carvalho

Brazilian educator who pioneered rural literacy programs and challenged gender norms in the Amazon region.

Elida Carvalho (1925–2005) was a trailblazing educator and social activist in Brazil, best known for her grassroots efforts to combat illiteracy among rural and Indigenous communities in the Amazon. In the 1950s, she developed innovative literacy programs tailored to Indigenous languages, empowering marginalized groups to assert their rights. Carvalho also founded the Amazon Women's Institute, which provided vocational training and healthcare to women in remote areas. Her advocacy for land rights and environmental conservation earned her the "Amazon Heroine" title. Carvalho's memoir, "Voices of the Forest", documents her struggles and achievements, highlighting the intersection of gender, education, and environmental justice.