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Patrícia Lima
18 years old
Peer Educator, Grupo Curumim
Brazil

"I will bring up my children in a much fairer way. I'll treat my boys and girls the same, and won't tell them that boys can do everything and girls nothing. I want to live those principles in all parts of my life, including professionally."







>>Click here to read the full interview

>>Available shortly in Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

IWHC: What are some of biggest problems facing women and young people in Brazil today?

Patrícia Lima: In my neighborhood in Recife, Ipotinga, the biggest problem is access to emergency contraception, or the “morning after” pill. Teenagers like us have to go to our local health clinic with our mothers. We don’t have access to contraceptives in general, and there aren’t doctors for teenagers. There is no support or space at school to discuss polemic issues such as sexuality, sexual and reproductive rights, emergency contraception, and STDs/AIDS prevention among other issues. more>>


IWHC: Why is the work of Curumim, and of IWHC, so important?

PL: IWHC’s support to Curumim really makes a difference. IWHC is supporting us, the teenagers and young people that are part of Cunhatã, Curumim’s youth program, and Parteiras, Curumim’s program for traditional birth attendants. Then we, in turn, can pass on all we’ve learned at Curumim. more>>


IWHC: Why is it important for you to work at Curumim?

PL: My work at Curumim has helped my life in general. Curumim is wonderful for giving the opportunity to teenagers to spend time here learning. I also receive a stipend from them now, which helps a lot. I’m not independent yet, because I’m only 17 years old, but I can go home and say, “Look, mom, I have some money to help you out this month.” more>>

IWHC: How will you realize the principles of sexual and reproductive health and rights in your own future?

PL: I think I will bring up my children in a much fairer way. I’ll treat my boys and girls the same, and won’t tell them that boys can do everything and girls nothing. I want to live those principles in all parts of my life, including professionally. In the future, I intend to become a nurse so that I can help other people and teach what I’ve learned with all my heart and with gratitude. I will work toward a world that’s fairer, with equal rights for men and women.


IWHC: What the world would look like if your dreams come true and you succeed at all those things?

PL: My dream world would be to have social equality and respect for diversity. There would be education and access to information for all, which unfortunately we don’t have now. We can achieve an ideal world if everyone is well informed about sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, about their sexual and reproductive rights. Everyone has the right to know these things.