Transforming favelas in Rio de Janerio

1. Nina
Soutoul
Making positive change
for children in the favelas
of Rio de Janeiro

2. Everything we transform, transforms us back
We live in an age of rapid change and transformation. With these short interviews I would like to introduce you to
inspirational people who initiate, cultivate and experience positive transformation on different levels and in different
areas. Rich insights and lessons learned that you might take forward into your own journey.
6 Questions to
Nina Soutoul

3. 1. Can you paint me a picture of how you bring change in the world? What do you personally see as your biggest
contribution?
I starting to feel that I was helping to bring change in the world when I first volunteered in an
orphanage in Bolivia in the summer of 2014. It changed my life forever and brought me into
the social and development area I am working in today. Following this volunteering, I went
to do internship around the world, from Paraguay, to Malaysia, to Indonesia and New York, I
tried to grasp little by little the focus points in working in social issues and with non-profit
organizations. When I worked for the French artist JR in New York, I started understanding
the power that the art and the human had together, and how both were closely related.
Today co-directing an artistic and cultural center in the favela Morro da Providência in Rio
de Janeiro, I see myself changed a little bit everyday and bringing change into this world -
from the love of the children, to the power of the actions, and going through all the
difficulties to finally see results that this world can be made better, and for this we need to
trust one another and work hard together.

4. 2. Many change pioneers and activists speak of external and internal transformation. When or how have you
noticed transformation within yourself, triggered by your work and actions?
When I worked with indigenous communities in Malaysia, I also started to closely get into
the world of yoga, and particularly Kundalini Yoga - highly practiced in Malaysia by the Sikh
community. It was a life changing experience for me in the inside, and I got to overcome a
lot of personal issues and challenges going through the process of meditation and
respiration. Both, my very passionate work on the field, working on social issues, and my
personal healing process through yoga and meditation have been an incredible and
balanced way that I found to feel transformed and moved everyday.

5. 3. Which experiences or people have shaped your personal transformation (Who inspired or even mentored you)?
What would you share with others to help them shape their journey?
Definitely my parents. My dad shapes me I would say more on my professional path, and
has always supported me in all the challenges I needed to face to get where I am today. My
mum, this incredible women, mother of five, has been my spiritual inspiration for years, and
we are still today exchanging so much on the path of life, its great obstacles and joys. I am
myself becoming the mother of a little boy in a few month, and this pregnancy is truly
shaping me in all different ways. Little moments are so important, seconds of breathing and
reflecting are so necessary and spiritual understanding are crucial to open your journey to
all the possibilities that life brings to you every single day.

6. 4. What changes do you find particularly moving at this moment?
We are in the middle of a pandemic (Covid19) and truly this is THE time for change. Inner
change particularly, and acception of what is truly important in your life. It is crazy to start
and understand the chance I have had all those years to feel freedom through every of my
moves, and the feeling when its stops is very hard to accept. This is why, I have enhanced
my spiritual and self healing work especially during this time in order to keep my heads up
and keep moving in the direction of a better world, for me.. and soon for my little boy.

7. 5. How can you or one of your projects be supported?
You can get more information on my project on our website casaamarelaprovidencia or our
instagram (@casaamarelaprovidencia).
You can donate and support from abroad, and if you ever in Rio and want to volunteer
bringing art, culture and education to the children in the favela, you can just send me an
email at nina@casaamarelaprovidencia.net and get in touch!

8. 6. Who would you recommend that could offer transformational experiences and inspirational thoughts?
My brother David Soutoul.

9. Here you find more resources about Nina
Email - nina@casaamarelaprovidencia.net
Website from the project I am part of - casaamarelaprovidencia
Linkedin - Nina Soutoul