Preta Pretinha

Dolls are effective for educating adults

as well as children

Antonia often provides workshops at schools, colleges and offices

in order to raise people's awareness of social diversity

She first uses a black doll

to talk about her experience of discrimination

Then she presents a scenario

where a doll is insulted with thoughtless words

because of its appearance

and describes how sad it must feel

Later

participants are given opportunities

to talk about what they have experienced

and how they feel

By remembering their own traumatic experiences

they realize the importance of respecting each others' differences

and learn to communicate more positively

Antonia stresses

that being different is not something to be pitied

It is our lack of awareness

that creates a society

where "different" people suffer

The dolls created at Preta Pretinha