“I believe that public spaces are a resource to fight inequality and corruption.”

Wendy Lisseth Morales Gálvez is a young Afroindigenous leader from El Salvador who founded Asociación Azul Originario, an organization that enhances civic participation through art, culture, popular education, defense of the environment and social entrepreneurship at the community level, particularly with youth. A human rights activist who was unjustly detained, she is committed to protecting and increasing civic space.

Wendy’s leadership is nationally recognized. She is a national reference/advisor for the Spotlight Initiative El Salvador with UN Women, the winner of the National Youth Awards social work category awarded by the government of El Salvador through the National Institute of Youth, and a finalist for the Agents of Change award from We Effect Swedish Lobbying Awards, and she was recognized by Asociación Mujeres Transformando “Obreras de la vida.”

Her work with youth is informed by her training in theater, holding technical degrees as a theater instructor and theater technician. She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in social work from the University of El Salvador, as well as diplomas in gender, human rights and advocacy. Arts, popular education, theater, eco-pedagogy and new methodologies for violence prevention from a gender and identity perspective all guide her work to reduce inequality.

Vision: A more just, equitable and dignified society, in which those who are hit hardest by inequalities and are empowered to be agents of change of their own stories, with a rich diversity of opportunities available to them.