EP06: Climbing, Activism & Finding Your Inner Child - A Brazilian Perspective

When there is an issue that needs solving in the community, Rafa Rebello steps up. After moving to Lençóis in northeast Brazil, he realized that local residents rarely enjoyed the stunning mountains of Chapada Diamantina National Park, despite living right at their feet. As it is in so many parts of the world, mountain climbing in Brazil is almost exclusively enjoyed by affluent people, more specifically cis white males. 

 

In conjunction with a growing interest and activism in diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the field of mountaineering, Rafa, a climber, guide, outdoor educator and activist, founded Coletivo de Escalada de Lençóis. This nonprofit  takes underserved, mostly BIPOC young people from the local community on weekly sport climbing and bouldering trips in the area, teaching them the basics and providing opportunities for professional development. In 2023, Rafa, who works with Avid4 Adventure as a talent acquisition specialist, facilitated the first BIPOC climbing event in Brazil, hosting climbing clinics in the country’s capital of Brasilia.

His willingness to learn and to enjoy life is a big part of why Rafa loves to work with young people. Mountaineering and bouldering is where he discovered his true self and the courage to live his most authentic life. Through continued DEI activism and journalism, his work with his collective and as a member of Avid4 Adventure’s JEDI (Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion), he is determined to make sure others get to experience the same thrilling highs of the outdoor life.

 

Quotes

• “When I got here seven years ago, I saw most of the climbing scene had a lot of people that weren’t from the city, mostly cis, white men and affluent people, there were no local people climbing. And the climbing potential is the thing that brought me here—it’s huge, there are rocks everywhere. So, I was looking at this place like, ‘OK, it’s like these people live in Hawaii, but no one’s willing to teach them to surf and they don’t have surf boards.” (11:10 | Rafa Rebello) 
• “Working with kids gives you that opportunity to just be silly or to have fun or to play around. As adults, sometimes I think we put ourselves in those boxes of ‘I have to be serious,’ and sometimes you don’t. And that’s totally OK.” (29:40 | Rafa Rebello)
• “Especially because I’m doing international hirings, I have to talk to people from different countries, different cultures, with different possibilities and opportunities in life. We have to make sure, during the process, that that process is inclusive for everyone. That’s my main concern always, overall, that people should feel included and should see that effort by Avid. And I feel like we do a pretty amazing job on that.” (35:01 | Rafa Rebello) 
• “I see climbing as art, it’s a choreography on the rock. For me, it’s like dancing.” (38:00 | Rafa Rebello) 
• “Let’s picture me 12 years ago: you wouldn’t see this hair, you wouldn’t see this beard, you would see me wearing a suit, shaving every day, and probably not with this smile. Because I was sitting in an office, doing meetings, not happy with what I wanted to do in this life. So, something that was a game changer for me was saying, ‘I’m not going to spend my whole life waiting for the right moment to live my dreams.”  (43:34 | Rafa Rebello)

Links

Connect with Rafa Rebello:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/rafahrebello 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafah.rebello/ 

Non profit - Coletivo de Escalada de Lençóis at: https://www.instagram.com/