My name is Camila Lima da Silva and I am studying dentistry at the university of Rio de Janeiro (the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro). I am 27 years old and I live in Maré, one of the largest favelas in Rio de Janeiro.

I've created a campaign for the second time to raise money to buy the essential materials for my dentistry studie. This time for my final year of dentistry study. I study at a public university, but there is no financial support system from the university or from the government. All dental materials and instruments I have to purchase myself, which cost more than 4000 euros for one year. However hard we work, my family and me, we don’t have the financial means for this.

Since I started university in 2019, I've faced many challenges, but none as great as financial difficulties. That is why I am looking once again for your support by this crowdfunding campaign, to be able to finish my education and to get my degree at the end of the year. Please, help me to make my dream, of becoming a health professional and to help my community, come true. I am so close now!

Any contribution, no matter what amount, will make a huge difference to my career. If you can help, either by donating or sharing this campaign, I will be eternally grateful.

Next to this, I want to thank again everybody who donated to my last crowdfunding! You made it possible for me to continue my studies last year, which was without doubt, the most challenging one so far. Only thanks to your support I was able to complete the study year succesfully. This gesture was fundamental and something I will never forget.

Studying in Brazil for me is more than just pursuing a university education. It is trying to find a place for myself in an environment where people with a background similar to mine, poor and black people from the favelas, are very rare. This does however, not discourage me. On the contrary, it motivates me to keep myself up and persist in this environment where money and race determines your place in society.

I feel a strong responsibility towards my community and family, friends that put a lot of effort to support me and I am learning how to bring better oral health and education to my community, where there is a lack of health care and education. By working hard myself, I want to set an example that determination and perseverance can open doors anywhere, regardless of our origins. It is so important to inspire the young and poor who live in the Maré favela, and in other favelas, and who wish, like me, to work in healthcare. When I finish my study (I will be the first one in my family with a degree) I can show that also they can succeed, that their dreams can be materialized too.

Thank you in advance for your patience, your kindness and generosity, not only on my behalf, but also on behalf of my family and friends who walk with me on this adventure.

I hope that 2025 will be a year of open paths, with peace and love in every step of all our journeys.

About the photos:

The group photo is from the first event of the league that I founded in college. The league is called “Liga Academicas Pró equidade Racial e de Gênero” (Academic League for Racial and Gender Equity). I am on the right, the others in the photo are my friends who are part of the league and the guest speaker during one of the activities.

The rest of the photos speak for themselves.