Young Mexican woman recognized by National Geographic

Mexican Andrea Villarreal Rodríguez went from being a very young reader of National Geographic to becoming part of this organization that seeks to protect the planet.

The Monterrey campus student was given the Young Explorers 2021 award last month for her work in bringing to light the experiences of women due to the climate crisis through her ‘Girl Up Storytelling Lab’ project.

This group, which is part of National Geographic, works with others so they can take a stand on current issues and provide world-changing solutions.

“I can’t believe I now belong to the same organization that cultivated my curiosity and love for the planet. I used to read these magazines in my school library. It was my introduction to the beauty of the world,” she said.

National Geographic awarded Villarreal a cash prize after the recognition, which she will use to support her project. She plans to launch the pilot this summer.

Another 24 young people from countries such as Guinea, Brazil, Indonesia, New Zealand, Kenya, the Philippines, and India were named Young Explorers 2021 alongside Villarreal.

Aim: speaking up through storytelling

In order to reach Nat Geo, Andrea responded to the “Young Explorers 2021” call with her Girl Up Storytelling Lab project, which will consist of women creating documentaries about the humanitarian impact of the climate crisis.

“It’s designed to be a program where girls can learn to identify a story, collaborate with communities, record, produce sound, and edit, all so they can tell their own story,” she said.

The work will take place as part of Girl Up Latin America and the Caribbean, an organization which positions women as leaders of the gender equality movement and where the 21-year-old is a regional communication leader.

“There will be 20 documentaries created by 20 girls in which they will explain how they adapt, mitigate, and propose creative solutions to the climate crisis.

“The idea is to go to rural communities because women there are those who suffer most because of climate change. If there are droughts, for example, then they have to walk further to fetch water or it affects how they feed their families,” she said.

This Tec student explained that when Girl Up provided the space, she wanted to use it to provide participants with the opportunity to develop tools in documentary filmmaking by giving workshops, as well as providing other activities.

“I think I can make change happen in other ways, and for me that would be through documentary film or other media such as design and photography.”

Andrea, who hails from Monterrey, participated in the Tec’s StoryTeller program at the Monterrey campus between 2019 and 2021. In this program, students develop their verbal, written, and visual communication skills by producing and publicizing the best Tec stories on its official sites.

“I was the first StoryTeller in the first semester at the Monterrey campus. I applied when I was still at PrepaTec Eugenio Garza Sada because I was very excited about the opportunity. 

“The program helped me take my photo and video skills to another level. I learned a lot and was surrounded by the most talented and creative people I know,” she shared.

Passionate about storytelling

Andrea Villarreal, who studies Communications, was director of photography for “A friendly hand”, a documentary made for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The short film was made in 2021 during a Narrative Documentary class given by the Humanities Department of the School of Humanities and Education at the Monterrey campus.

“I think I can make change happen in other ways, and for me that would be through documentary film or other media such as design and photography,” she said.

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