Born on International Women’s Day in Ecuador, Kristhel Vernaza Sanchez believes she was destined for a life of advocacy. From a young age, she stood alongside her mother at protests and conferences, absorbing the principles of humanitarianism that would eventually define her own path. While she credits her mother as her first mentor, the impact Sanchez has made since is entirely her own, a story of activism that already spans the globe.
By age 15, during a global pandemic, she co-founded Red de Organizaciones por la Defensa de Derechos de Niñez y Adolescencia (RODDNA). This national, youth-led organization was designed to empower Ecuadorian children and adolescents to claim their rights and amplify their voices. Sanchez didn’t just facilitate workshops; she took her peers’ concerns to the highest level, advocating before Ecuador’s National Assembly to reform Ecuador’s Childhood and Adolescent Code, and later presenting them at United Nations conferences. Her work has enabled other young people to become changemakers and engaged civic actors, as she firmly believes that humanitarianism blooms as more individuals get involved.
At age 18 Sanchez became the youngest member of the Rotary Club Guayaquil Astillero. She quickly pivoted from membership to leadership, supporting Marimba for Peace, a project that used Afro-Ecuadorian art and culture to offer alternatives to youth affected by violence.
Now a rising senior at UW–Madison and a King-Morgridge Scholar, Sanchez is studying sociology, psychology and political science. She works at the Morgridge Center for Public Service, where she guides, supports and educates other students to cultivate meaningful community engagement experiences in the greater Madison area. As a former member of the Rotaract Club at UW–Madison, she was also able to volunteer with food security initiatives. These experiences have allowed her to blend complex social theory with practical leadership. Currently, along with other students and a faculty advisor, she is developing a digital literacy project aimed at preventing cyberbullying and recruitment by criminal groups, a program she intends to implement in Ecuador.
Ultimately, her goal is to transition from being a voice for young people to ensuring they have the tools to use their own. As Sanchez puts it: “Whether through advocacy, education or policymaking, I will continue working to ensure that dignity, voice and opportunity are not privileges, but rights guaranteed to all.”
The scholarship committee was moved by her global mindset, leadership experiences, life of advocacy and joyful demeanor. The committee found her innate love for others and jubilance infectious. The College of Letters & Science extends deep gratitude to the Richard Ralph Winter Phoenix Rising Humanitarian Scholarship Committee for their support of undergraduates and the review of many wonderful applicants.
The Richard Ralph Winter Phoenix Rising Humanitarian Scholarship is made possible by the generosity of Charles Manthey Winter (’66). The scholarship recognizes humanitarian achievement and service, encouraging excellence and commitment in the application of humanitarian ideals and affirming the moral obligation to provide for human welfare.