Faith in the Youth: Meet the Team Behind the 11th BRICS Youth Summit
Revitalizing multilateralism, as the Brazilian songwriter Gonzaguinha once put it, also means “believing in the youth.” In that spirit, young leaders from across the Global South will gather in Brasilia on June 9 and 10 for the 11th BRICS Youth Summit, coordinated by a Brazilian delegation unafraid to “face the beast and wrestle the lion.”
Youth leadership invigorates public debate and helps build more inclusive, participatory, and pluralistic societies. That belief is shared by the BRICS countries, which will host the 11th BRICS Youth Summit in Brasilia next week, on June 9 and 10.
The Brazilian delegation is made up of nine members (a Presidency, Executive Coordinators, and Delegates), joined by elected observer-guests from the regional seminar phase. Together, they are undertaking — for the first time — a formal, decision-making process to bring together young people from across the Global South, following the bloc’s expansion.
Considering that the previous full configuration of the group (Brasil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) lasted fourteen years, the recent growth in member and partner countries formally committed to Global South cooperation represents a 300% increase.
Meet the team coordinating this process— and their visions for how youth can help renew multilateralism:
Ronald Sorriso
(Presidency)
“We are the largest group of young people on the planet, from developing nations capable of setting a new rhythm for global governance—one that is more inclusive, democratic, and plural,” says the National Youth Secretary at the Office of the President of the Republic. “From our perspective, we have the ability to build a sustainable and peaceful future for this planet.”
Matheus Diniz
(Executive Coordinator)
“Our mission is to build strong relationships between the youth of the Global South, grounded in peace, respect, self-determination, national sovereignty, sustainable development with social justice, and environmental protection. These values should be the foundation for a sweeping reform of the global governance system,” says the Executive Secretary of the National Youth Council.
Maynara Nafe
(Delegation)
A Palestinian Brazilian, she is Secretary of Institutional Relations at the Palestinian Arab Federation of Brasil and Director of Educational Policy at the National Union of Students.
Bruna Brelaz
(Presidency)
“When we take up space in multilateral arenas—BRICS, for instance—we bring perspectives that challenge global power imbalances and put forward alternatives rooted in peace, youth advocacy, sustainability, and the self-determination of peoples,” says the President of the National Youth Council. “Our role is to push against obsolete structures, amplify voices historically silenced, and build alliances that make multilateralism an effective instrument for global transformation.”
Henrique Domingues
(Delegation)
Holds a master’s degree with honors in International Trade from Saint Petersburg State University of Economics. He is Deputy Head of the BRICS International Municipal Forum and an international specialist and speaker on Economic Integration and International Financial Architecture.
Laís Vitória
(Delegation)
A master’s student in Information Design at the University of Brasilia, she works as a technical advisor to the state of Maranhão in international affairs, focusing on educational projects for public schools.
Nilson Florentino Júnior
(Executive Coordinator)
“I believe the role of Global South youth is critical not only to expand global governance of youth policies, but also to strengthen common agendas: the institutionalization of social participation forums, the ongoing struggle for peace, and bold action on climate change. Brasil’s youth presidency is aligned with these themes,” says the Director for Cross-cutting Youth Public Policies at the National Youth Secretariat.
Julia Aguiar
(Delegation)
National Coordinator of the Levante Popular da Juventude. She holds a degree in Social Sciences and is currently studying Law. She is also part of the leadership of the Paulo Freire National School, a political education institution for youth in Brazil’s peripheral communities.
Luiza Calvette Costa
(Delegation)
A political scientist with a master’s in Latin American Studies, her research focuses on the state in Latin America. She is the Director-General of the Center for Integration and Cooperation between Russia and Latin America in Brasil, and a member of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with Peoples and the Struggle for Peace.
English version: Judas Tadeu de Azevedo Neto (POET/UFC)
Proofreading by: Kelvis Santiago do Nascimento (POET/UFC)