Maria Santos

A Brazilian social entrepreneur eradicating child labor through education and economic empowerment

Maria Aparecida da Silva Santos is a Brazilian social entrepreneur who pioneered innovative solutions to end child labor in the Amazon region. Born in 1982 in a poverty-stricken family in Pará state, she witnessed first-hand the exploitation of children in illegal mining and logging operations. In 2005, she founded Instituto Cidadania e Criação, an organization that combines education with microfinance to provide viable alternatives to child labor.

Santos' model includes building schools in remote areas while offering parents small loans to start sustainable businesses like organic farming cooperatives. Over 15 years, her initiatives have removed over 12,000 children from exploitative labor while establishing 800+ family businesses. Her approach was highlighted in the UNICEF report "Breaking Chains in the Amazon", which called her methods a replicable model for Latin America.

In 2018, she received the International Children's Peace Prize on behalf of her organization. Her TEDx talk "How to End Child Labor in the Amazon" has become a blueprint for community-driven development strategies. Santos also co-authored <《Voices from the Rainforest》, sharing stories of transformed communities through her programs. Her work exemplifies how localized, holistic approaches can address complex social issues with lasting impact.