From working in the informal economy to union leader in Brazil

Once part of Brazil’s informal economy, Jani Cleide da Silva has transformed her life’s path. Today, she is both a union leader and a social worker at the Olympic and Paralympic Stadium in Planaltina.

“I don’t just have a job,” she says, “I have a voice, courage, and faith.”

Through union involvement, Jani discovered a sense of belonging and purpose in collective action. Participating in movements and assemblies taught her that a union’s mission is not to discredit companies, but to defend and uphold the rights of workers. “If rights are violated,” she says, “the union must be there.”

At the Olympic Center, “a happy place” where lives are transformed, Jani hopes to leave a lasting impact on the youth she works with. For her, social justice means guaranteeing the rights of all.

Source: ILO