In this special seminar on the theme of children and youth studies, Laura Erber will talk about I PROTEST!, her recent children's book about the importance of protest and her experiences in launching it with children, youth and adults.
- Speaker
- Date
- Tuesday 27 May 2025, 13:00 - 14:00
- Type
- Seminar
- Spoken Language
- English
- Room
- Room 1.31
- Location
- International Institute of Social Studies
I PROTEST! (Eu Protesto!) is co-authored by Laura Erber and Fred Ravioli. First published in Brazil, it is an expansive and inclusive exploration of protest as a fundamental human experience.
The book acts as a springboard for conversations about citizenship: from private, personal acts of dissent to collective demonstrations in public spaces, it eloquently underscores the importance of nurturing a sense of self-determination in children – empowering them to become critically engaged members of society.
I PROTEST! draws inspiration from the powerful wave of student-led protests in Brazil in 2015, when high schoolers occupied their schools and reclaimed them through care, creativity and community. The book frames protest not as disruption but as a deeply human expression – one that begins at birth, with our first cries as acts of resistance.
By offering a destigmatized view of protest, it invites children to see it as part of their civic imagination, rooted in empathy, agency, and hope.
The book was also published in Bahasa Indonesia during the 13th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) in Surabaya, in collaboration with the children of Kampung Tambak Bayan.
About the authors
Laura Erber is a writer and editor, and co-founder of Zazie Edições, a publishing house dedicated to the democratization of knowledge. She coordinates the fellowships programme and the development of global partnerships at the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), based in Leiden. Author of novels, poetry collections and essays, she has also published several books for children.
Frederico Ravioli lives and works in São Paulo, where he is active as a visual artist and a teacher at the Arco cooperative school. He holds a bachelor's degree and a teaching qualification from UNESP. His practice involves working with inflatable plastic tarpaulins, painting, art direction and performance – often taking his creations directly into the heart of demonstrations and protests.