Larissa Freitas

Brazilian edtech pioneer democratizing STEM education for marginalized youth

Larissa Freitas is the creator of Coder's Bridge, a Brazilian nonprofit that has trained over 15,000 underserved youth in coding and digital literacy since 2021. Her platform uses gamified learning modules accessible via low-cost smartphones, with 72% of program graduates securing tech-related jobs or scholarships. A Google.org Impact Challenge winner, Freitas developed the "Amazon Tech Forest" initiative that teaches indigenous communities digital skills while preserving their cultural heritage through AI-driven language preservation tools. Her partnership with UNESCO produced the Global Digital Equity Index, now used by 34 countries to measure youth tech access disparities. Freitas' viral YouTube series "Code to the Future" (available at YouTube) has 3.2 million subscribers. In 2024, she launched the 《Code Without Borders》 textbook series translated into 12 languages. Her work with Microsoft's AI for Accessibility program enabled the creation of Braille-based coding kits distributed to 500+ blind students. Freitas' TEDx talk "Bridging the Digital Divide" has inspired similar initiatives in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Recognized as one of TIME's 2023 Most Influential Teens, her vision continues to transform educational equity through tech innovation.