About the speaker
Born in the Portuguese capital, Joana Cavaco has studied singing, cello and classical guitar at the Metropolitan Music School of Lisbon. Despite her early interest with music, Joana quickly developed a passion for European politics, Women’s rights and Culture which made her pursue an undergraduate degree in International Studies at Leiden University- specialising in North American politics and Gender and Sexuality.
Cavaco resides in Rotterdam, where she manages her own grass roots project ‘’KONTRA’’. As a community-based organizer, Joana advocates for the eradication of verbal and physical sexual harassment within the city- having already worked with youngsters from all over Europe on the topics of Women’s rights and gender equality. She has experience with the creation of safe spaces and has developed various practices through KONTRA- aiming to connect art and activism. By organizing an international women’s day SLUTWALK, collaborating and curating programmes that reflect the inclusivity and sustainability of these practices, Joana aims to catalyze change from the bottom up.
Joana Cavaco studeert International Studies aan de universiteit van Leiden met een specialisatie in Noord-Amerikaanse politiek en Gender en Seksualiteit. Ze woont en werkt in Rotterdam en is oprichter van “KONTRA”. Ze creëert safe spaces, ontwikkelt methodes om kunst en activisme met elkaar te verbinden en strijdt voor de uitbanning van straatintimidatie op woordelijk en fysiek niveau. Ieder jaar op internationale vrouwendag organiseert ze een SLUTWALK in rotterdam. Via samenwerkingen met lokale gemeenschappen, waaronder jongeren door heel Europa, initieert ze op democratische wijze gelijkheid voor alle vrouwxn en genders wereldwijd.