My name is Gabriela Marizabel Maturano Quentasi, I am from the capital of Bolivia, Sucre. I am 20 years old, I live with my parents who are the most wonderful people in the world, they support me with the activities I carry out and in each dream or goal that I have to fulfill, I have 2 brothers who are my inspiration, and I hope I can also be a great example and inspiration for them.
Currently I am studying architecture in the Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de CHUQUISACA. I am Afro-descendant, I belong to a cultural group called “MOCAAFRI” which means (Cultural Movement of African Baskets), the work we do is to defend the rights of Afro-descendant people, to show Afro-Bolivian culture through different workshops, dances, music. My community is based on a phrase that marked my life and the lives of different Afro-descendants “I AM A CULTURE NOT A COLOR”. The work I do as a leader is in favor of the Afro-Bolivian culture, this is a constant struggle for vindication, it is hard work for strengthen the culture and fight for the rights of the Afro people. In other aspects I work and have been involved from a very young age (13 years) in the “MJS” (Salesian youth movement), this is an educational movement offered to all young people to make them subjects and protagonists of their human growth. , social and Christian, with missionary commitment, open to those most in need. Currently my biggest project is with the Afro-descendant community, our objective is to fight racism and the fight for citizenship, this fight has always been. MOCAAFRI seeks to revitalize and rescue Afro-Bolivian traditions, to generate changes in our current society, in this way being able to inspire society to make changes in our society.