Renato Martins Dornelas poses with friends. Renato Martins Dornelas, an alumnus of the 2011 Youth Ambassadors program, is one of Brazil’s most energetic young alumni. Renato is an active member of the inaugural Ambassador’s Youth Council for Mission Brazil and is also a founder and head of international affairs for React & Change, an organization that encourages youth to combat gender inequality and its ramifications such as bullying, unemployment, violence against women, youth apathy, and social intolerance through entrepreneurial empowerment and the empowerment of women and girls.

Inspired by the team building, leadership and community service skills learned on his Youth Ambassador exchange, Renato, through React & Change, held the first Youth for Empowerment Forum (YEF) in July 2011 in the Fortaleza region of Brazil. YEF will eventually be held in all regions of Brazil in an effort to enable youth from distinct economic backgrounds and cultures to advocate for social advancements. The first forum led to the development of national Afro-Brazilian awareness campaigns, the social media mobilization of youth in support of women’s rights, and the replication of youth leadership trainings all over Brazil and abroad. Through such outcomes, the forum has led to the engagement of more than 10,000 young social entrepreneurs.

React & Change is currently preparing for its second Youth Empowerment Forum (YEF) in Manaus from March 28 - April 2, 2013. This year’s forum will bring together 30 young activists from the Amazon region to promote leadership development and further engage youth activism connected to gender inequality and youth apathy.