São Paulo, Brazil
August 31 to September 4, 2025
From August 31 to September 4, seven of ten fellows of the María Oropeza Activism Fellowship came together in São Paulo, the largest city in Latin America, for their long-awaited graduation workshop.
Representing diverse backgrounds and stories, the fellows included two leaders from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, one from Guatemala with roots in Venezuela, one from Canada with roots in Venezuela, and two from Brazil (São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro).
After six months of fellowship and online training in soft skills, this final stage was designed to close the cycle on a high note. The workshop focused on activism in practice, giving fellows the space to step up as the true protagonists of their journey.
Adding to the inspiration, the program was joined by Nena Whitfield, President of LOLA, who celebrated alongside the fellows this important milestone in their leadership journey.
Sunday, August 31 – A Night to Connect
The workshop began with a relaxed welcome dinner at the Mercure Jardins Hotel. For many, it was the first time meeting face-to-face after months of virtual collaboration. The atmosphere was warm and full of energy, as connections sparked and bonds formed across borders.
The workshop was hosted throughout by Izabela Patriota, LOLA’s Director of Development, who welcomed the fellows and set the tone for the transformative days ahead.
Monday, September 1 – Leadership in Action
The first full day opened with inspiring remarks from Nena Whitfield, President of LOLA, followed by the Opening Circle: “My LOLA Story”, a powerful moment where each participant had three minutes to share her personal journey, weaving together a collective narrative of resilience and purpose.
The morning continued with the session Leading in Unfree Places + The Cause of My Life, led by Mônica Rosenberg—lawyer, former political candidate, and founder of Instituto Não Aceito Corrupção. Fellows reflected on their leadership identity, defined their personal causes, and prepared compelling pitches.
Right after, the group jumped into the Elevator Pitch Contest, where each fellow had 60 seconds to convince a “donor” to support their cause. The winner was Sara Ganime, fellow and leader of LOLA Rio de Janeiro.
Before lunch, fellows were introduced to the MOAF Social Media Lab—#FreeMariaOropeza Challenge, in which they created advocacy content to amplify the case of María Oropeza, a Venezuelan LOLA leader imprisoned by the Venezuelan dictatorship. In this exercise, they applied the knowledge gained during the online training. The winner was Sara Ganime, leader of the LOLA Rio de Janeiro chapter.
The afternoon unfolded with a Photoshoot Session, Personal Development Coaching (Session 1 & 2) with Nancey Tsai (LOLA Board Member), and a playful Freedom Speed Dating energizer. Fellows also had time to start working on the Social Media Challenge before closing the day with a group dinner.
In the afternoon, Sara Ganime—journalist and LOLA Rio Chapter Leader—led the session How to Pitch Yourself to the Press, where fellows role-played pitching their causes to journalists, gaining skills in credibility and visibility.
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
The day opened with Strategic Fundraising & Partnerships, facilitated by Izabela Patriota, where fellows mapped out organizations and individuals that could support their causes.
The final stretch of the program was marked by the Final Project Presentations + Feedback, where each fellow had 5 minutes to present her project developed during the fellowship. Then came the much-awaited MOAF Social Media Challenge Results—with Sara Ganime also named the winner.
The evening closed with two emotional moments: the Time Capsule Activity, where fellows wrote letters to their future selves and messages to donors, followed by the MOAF Graduation Ceremony. The celebration continued with a Graduation Dinner, marking the successful completion of the fellowship journey.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
The final day was dedicated to connection and celebration. Fellows explored São Paulo through a city tour, visiting key historical and cultural sites while strengthening the bonds formed throughout the program.
In the evening, they joined members of the LOLA São Paulo Chapter for a lively Happy Hour, closing the workshop with inspiration, joy, and community.
The Maria Oropeza Activism Fellowship Graduation Workshop ended with a strong sense of accomplishment, unity, and empowerment. Fellows left São Paulo equipped with new skills, stronger leadership identities, and the certainty that they are part of a continental network of women activists ready to lead change across the Americas.
Thank you to our sponsors and donors
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors – Objective Standard Institute, Leadership Institute, Young Americans for Liberty, and Nancey Tsai – for making the 2025 Maria Oropeza Activism Fellowship Graduation Workshop possible and for supporting the fellows throughout their six-month journey. Your commitment to advancing women’s leadership and strengthening the fight for liberty across the Americas is deeply appreciated.
We also honor María Oropeza, the courageous Venezuelan LOLA leader imprisoned by the Maduro regime, whose strength and resilience continue to inspire dozens of LOLAs around the world. Her story is at the heart of this fellowship, reminding us why we fight for freedom.
Together, we are empowering the next generation of women leaders to rise and defend freedom. 