How literature can inspire social change

Trinidad Arellano Moya

Trini illustrates how literature can be a powerful tool for education and social change. In a challenging environment where students face numerous struggles beyond academics, Trini uses reading to inspire her students. In the wake of Chile’s social unrest in 2019, she introduced Shaun Tan’s book La Cigarra, which resonated deeply with her students. The story’s themes of injustice and migration sparked meaningful discussions about their experiences and the sociopolitical issues affecting their lives. This led to a school-wide rally where students expressed their visions for a better future. Trini believes that exposure to diverse stories broadens students’ perspectives and fosters a sense of hope and agency.

Listen to Trini

“I believe that reading and enjoying a book in whichever form can have a healing aspect, it can have a concept of reflecting on your own life but also learning about other people’s experiences, other realities, other fantasies.”

Trinidad Arellano Moya

Trinidad Arellano Moya

Trinidad Arellano Moya is a middle school teacher from Chile and a researcher of children’s literature. She has worked in the public school system for over seven years and, through her Instagram account @profetrini, she shares children’s literature recommendations, critical theory around the subject, and tips to bring reading closer to children by helping their guardians. She recently graduated with an MPhil in Education at the University of Cambridge. She is co-author of the book Promoting The Joy Of Reading And Intercultural Awareness – A Corpus of Authentic Texts for Elementary EFL Classrooms in Chile.