BRICS youth seminars strengthen Global South themes across Brasil’s five regions

Following a series of successful virtual meetings exceeding two thousand registrations, BRICS youth is preparing for next week's Summit, where elected guest observers from the seminars will take place

By Franciéli Barcellos de Moraes / francieli.moraes@presidencia.gov.br

Recognizing themselves as part of the Global South and committing to active cooperation towards a fairer, more sustainable, and multipolar future is essential for youth engagement in the BRICS discussions. This approach has been the driving force behind the « Thematic Regional Seminars: Youth and BRICS », held in May.

With over two thousand registrations, the seminars—organized by the National Secretariat for Youth and the National Youth Council—provided a platform for discussions on key topics, including sustainability, health, sports, technology, and education, among others. The initiative was structured across five editions, encompassing all Brazilian regions.

The meetings were held in a virtual format to promote broader and more democratic youth participation. In this context, they contributed to strengthening national connections among Brazilian youth interested in Global South issues, while also fostering international engagement between young people from member and partner countries.

To access the debates, the recorded sessions can be retrieved via this link.

“This initiative was particularly significant as it enabled a structured listening process while fostering meaningful networking among young researchers and local leaders interested in deepening their understanding of BRICS operations. Furthermore, it served as a valuable platform for exchanging experiences and learning from initiatives developed by other BRICS countries," emphasized Nilson Florentino Júnior, who represents the National Secretariat for Youth within BRICS.

The election of regional representatives for the Summit, the strengthening of Brasil's BRICS presidency priorities — including the promotion of social participation within the People-to-People (P2P) pillar — and the enhancement of the final document set to be signed by the Youth Ministers next week were among the key objectives achieved throughout the meetings. The "Thematic Regional Seminars: Youth and BRICS" also marked the first formal participation of the newly integrated member countries in youth-related processes within the bloc. Ethiopia, Egypt, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates were among the thematic coordinators.

Meet the elected youth representatives

The representatives were elected during each seminar to ensure regional representation at next week's Summit (June 9-10). Below are the profiles of the five elected guest observers:

Maria Cecília

an 18-year-old from Paudalho, Pernambuco, is actively engaged in social and educational initiatives. She collaborates with Junior Achievement, one of Latin America’s leading organizations in promoting financial education, entrepreneurship, and workforce preparation. Committed to expanding opportunities for all, she strives to inspire new realities.

Paulo Nobre

a 20-year-old from Marituba, Pará, is a dedicated socio-environmental advocate serving as a national coordinator for Engajamundo, a youth network committed to shaping a sustainable future. He also oversees environmental education projects within the Crias do Umari Network. Currently, he is pursuing degrees in History and Environmental Engineering & Renewable Energies at the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (UFRA).

Pietra Regis

a 23-year-old from Rio de Janeiro, is pursuing a degree in International Relations at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), where she conducts research at the Laboratory for Environmental Studies, Development, and International Relations (LEMADRIN), focusing on the Global South. Over the past year, she has served as a liaison officer for the G20 working groups on Culture and Education under Brasil’s presidency.

Vinicius Miguel

a 27-year-old from Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, is a final-year student of International Relations and Integration at the Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA). He is currently an intern at Itaipu Binacional and is passionate about BRICS, Global South development, and energy transition issues.

Tainah Osler

an 18-year-old from Brasília, Federal District, is pursuing a degree in International Relations at the University of Brasília (UnB), where she is a member of Lab BRICS. She is also actively engaged in volunteer initiatives. Last week, the university, in collaboration with the BRICS presidency and other institutions, hosted « BRICS Week », convening members of the academic community alongside national and international authorities.

In addition to the 11th Youth Summit, next week will also feature the 7th BRICS Youth Energy Summit, providing a platform for dialogue on the challenges of transforming global energy matrices and advancing the development of renewable energy.

English version Michel Emmanuel Félix François (UFC)
Proofreading Judas Tadeu de Azevedo Neto (UFC)