Mafalda Couto

from: Portugal, volunteering in: Colibri, from: 1/2025  to: 6/2025

During my psychology degree at City, University of London, I learned more about child development theories and educational psychology. I completed an internship in a day center for people with learning disabilities, where students were encouraged to take ownership of their lives and education by choosing their curriculum and participating in society. In my interdisciplinary master's in social policy and public health at Utrecht University, I learned how to approach social challenges with different lenses. Here, I deepened my knowledge of educational policies in Europe. I also got the opportunity to complete an internship at JUB, a non-formal education organization that runs activities to promote human rights and civic participation.
I applied for CoLibri School because I am curious about free democratic schools and how they work in practice. My interest surged when I read Paulo Freire, a Brazilian educator who was an advocate of critical pedagogy.
I love traveling and meeting new people. When I am not working, I like to go to the beach, listen to music, read books and write.