---
title: "Izeldete Botelho, Brazil"
date: 2025-04-18T12:47:00+00:00
author: admin
canonical_url: "https://globalassemblies.org/story/izeldete-botelho-brazil"
section: GCA Story
---
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 Izeldete Botelho, Brazil# From local artisan to environmental advocate

 [Watch her story](#videoSection) Or scroll down to read 

 

 

  ### A life rooted in sustainability

###### Izeldete Botelho, a 67-year-old seamstress from Uberlândia, Brazil, has  
lived a life dedicated to her family and craft. Originally from Campos  
Altos, Minas Gerais, she moved to Uberlândia with her husband, raising  
three children and a granddaughter. For decades, she has supported her  
household through sewing and crafting handmade goods using recycled  
materials—turning fabric scraps into artistic, sustainable creations.

 

   ![image slide 1](/uploads/Rectangle-3-2.png) 

 

 ![image slide 1](/uploads/GCA_Izeldete1.png) 

 

 ![image slide 1](/uploads/GCA_Izeldete3.png) 

 

 

 

  ### A citizen’s voice at COP26

###### In 2021, Izeldete was selected to participate in the **Global Citizens’ Assembly**  
**at COP26,** where she gained a deeper understanding of global climate issues  
and the role citizens can play in environmental preservation. The experience  
transformed her perspective, reinforcing the idea that **small local actions can**  
**contribute to large-scale global change.**

 

   ![story quote image](/uploads/story-quote.png) 

  ![quote image](https://globalassemblies.org/images/quote.png)### Gratitude is a word I carry with me after COP26. It gave me a new way to see nature, to feel more connected to it, and to participate as an active citizen.

 

 

 

 

 ### Becoming a local climate leader

Inspired by her experience at COP26, Izeldete returned to Uberlândia with a renewed mission:

- **Raising Awareness –** She now actively shares what she learned,  
    advocating for environmental consciousness in her local community.
- **Sustainable Living –** She continues to create eco-friendly crafts, using   
    fabric waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.
- **Building a Sustainable Community –** With support from the Ipê Cultural  
    Institute, she initiated a zero-waste project in her condominium, aiming  
    to make it a model for sustainable urban living in Uberlândia.

 

   ![image slide 1](/uploads/Frame-2-1.jpg) 

 

 ![image slide 1](/uploads/GCA_Izeldete2.png) 

 

 ![image slide 1](/uploads/GCA_Izeldete4.png) 

 

 

 

    ![quote image](https://globalassemblies.org/images/quote.png)At first, I felt powerless about the state of the planet. But after COP26, I realised that if each of us does our part, we can make a real difference.

 

 

 

 

   ![timeline Image](/uploads/Group-2-6.jpg) 

### Legacy & future impact

Izeldete's story proves that sustainability has no age limit and that climate action can start   
with simple, everyday choices. Her leadership in Uberlândia has inspired others to take small but   
meaningful steps toward a greener future. She continues to spread awareness and advocate for   
citizen involvement in climate governance, believing that a better world is possible—one recycled   
fabric, one conversation, and one community at a time.

 

 

    ![quote image](https://globalassemblies.org/images/quote.png)Seeing so many people at COP26 who care about the planet gave me hope. Now, I want to pass on that hope to others.

 

 

 

 

   ![timeline Image](/uploads/story-new-img.png) [![Play icon](https://globalassemblies.org/images/play-white.svg)](#) 

### Watch Izeldete's story

 

 

    

 

 

 

  ### A New era of global  
 governance starts here

Be part of the conversation shaping global decisions.

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Help build a more inclusive future for people and the planet.

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