During my summer at Filha do Sol, I worked on several different tasks related to the Filha do Sol's inaugural class of its Women's Climate School. Filha do Sol's Women's Climate School consists of two programs: Climate and Territory (C&S) and Climate and Entrepreneurship (C&E). The first program focuses on supporting a local women's network in mangrove restoration. The second program works in collaboration with Women's Earth Alliance to support local women's entrepreneurship in climate-related businesses. My role in supporting these two programs spanned several different activities, including research, grant-writing, curriculum development, and workshop facilitation. During this fellowship, I worked closely with the three women founders of Filha do Sol to design and implement the first several sessions of the Women's Climate School. I wrote educational material and created presentations for the Climate School sessions, as well as attended and supported their implementation. Additionally, I was involved with coordinating prospective volunteers at Filha do Sol, facilitating future collaboration between Columbia University and Filha do Sol, and generating communication material for Filha do Sol's social media.

During my five years at Columbia, I refined my interest in the field of environmental science and sustainability. I studied environmental science in undergraduate at Columbia College and conducted paleoclimate research at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in the organic geochemistry lab during my junior and senior years. Directly after graduation, I pursued a master's degree in climate and society with an emphasis on climate justice at Columbia's Climate School. As such, I spent years studying principles of environmental science and climate justice, and my experience at Filha do Sol facilitated my application of these principles. Although I had previous experience working with environmental justice communities in Colombia and California, my work at Filha do Sol was by far my most immersive experience. While in Brazil, I slogged through the mangroves and learned from local climate activists. I engaged in local women's circles and heard firsthand from these women how they have been adversely affected both physically and mentally by climate change.

This work has not been without its challenges. The rapid growth of Filha do Sol has been incredible, but also difficult to manage. Our small staff works collaboratively, which means that I perform a variety of different tasks for the organization, including grant writing, research, and curriculum development. Additionally, the immersive experience of living in a small village in Brazil requires working in a different culture and often in a different language. Nonetheless, these challenges have yielded incredible learning experiences. By working with a small team, I have gained access to the inner workings of an internationally renowned nonprofit organization. Additionally, my exposure to a variety of different roles honed different skills such as writing, public speaking, and research.

My experience at Filha do Sol has been the highlight of my career in the field of environmental justice thus far. The challenges I experienced throughout the fellowship yielded incredible learning experiences. By working with a small team, I gained access to the inner workings of an internationally renowned nonprofit. The challenge of acclimating to a new culture and learning a new language led to tremendous personal and professional growth. Additionally, I learned from incredible women climate leaders about best practices for addressing climate justice issues in service of marginalized sectors of society. As a result, this experience has been very special and provided me with a richer understanding of climate justice issues, and how they can manifest across the globe. I intend to take this nuanced understanding with me as I pursue a career working in the field of environmental justice. Over the next year, I am excited to continue working with Filha do Sol and to grow personally and professionally.