Today, we are kicking off a series of blogs and videos focused on conversations with amazing people from various walks of life who embody the characteristics and practices of changemaking in their lives.  These interviews are structured with the Blue Roads “Changemaker Journey” in mind.  Each conversation centers roughly around four question categories that echo our slogan “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”:  

* Homegrown: Who are you and how have your home and your “people” influenced you as a changemaker?
* Solutions: What issues have you found important to work on in your life? 
* Patchwork: How have you worked with people different from yourself?  How is doing so important to your work for change in the world?
* World: How has all of this brought out the “changemaker” in you?  What have you done to change the world? What are your plans? Why is it important?    

Introducing Maria Silva, Homegrown Changemaker

We were pleased to kick off the Changemaker Series by talking with an amazing young woman and future astronaut from Brazil, Maria Silva.  Maria is a changemaker who aspires to be Brazil’s first female astronaut.   Our conversation was her first interview conducted entirely in English.  Her story is one of inspiration, dedication, and hard work.  See the video version of the interview here:    Maria Silva Changemaker Interview 

Meet Homegrown Maria  

When Maria was a small child growing up in Mato Grosso, in the city of Tangará da Serra in central Brazil, she looked up in awe at the night sky and saw a spectacular meteor shower. 
It was really brilliant and blue in the sky, and I was maybe seven or eight years old, and I thought, “Oh, my God, what is this? I need to study this!”

This pivotal event early in her childhood sparked a voracious curiosity and desire to understand the wonders of the universe.

Maria actively sought out opportunities to learn and devoured all she could find in her classroom and local library about space and space exploration.  Though she found the resources available to her quite limited, her supportive father let her interest be known.  A local friend built a telescope at home and allowed her to join in their learning.  It wasn’t long before another friend of the family gifted her with a telescope of her very own.  With this new treasure, she quickly found ways to feed her passion and to share it with others.   Maria soon determined that she would embrace the sciences with intention and enthusiasm and do everything in her power to become an astronaut someday. 

I was eight years old, and I saw the first Brazilian astronaut arriving in the International Space Station (on) my television and I thought, “I really want to become an astronaut, too!”

Despite her determination, Maria faced many challenges during her younger years at school. Resources for pursuing her dream were not readily available and many in her community did not fully comprehend her passion. There were not enough materials in her Brazilian public school to study and fully explore the sciences.  Laboratories for research and experimentation were minimal.  At times, people questioned her dreams and failed to understand her vision as a female with such ambitious aspirations.  

Maria would not be moved.  Her character and her supportive father drove her forward in the pursuit of her dreams.

In 2012, my father put an internet at home… …The internet is a universe!

Solution-focused Maria