HACIA Democracy's 30th Summit of the Americas comes to Brazil for the First Time

In this interview, co-presidents of the HACIA Summit Dariana González (AB '25) and Sarah Borges (AB '25) reflect on what it meant to bring the conference to Brazil for the first time, discussing the logistical challenges, democratic ambitions, and transformative experiences that shaped this year’s edition. With the support of the DRCLAS Brazil Office—whose connections helped HACIA build key local partnerships—and in alignment with DRCLAS’s Defense of Democracy Thematic Initiative, the Summit became a space for meaningful democratic engagement and cross-border dialogue across the Americas.

1. The 30th Summit of the Americas is an important milestone. Can you share what the summit is about and what made this edition particularly meaningful?

The Harvard Association for Cultivating Inter-American (HACIA) Democracy Summit is the largest student-led simulation of the Organization of American States in the world. Every year since 1994, Harvard undergraduates organize a space where high school students from across Latin America learn how regional governance works, debate the most pressing challenges facing their countries, and work together to develop policy solutions. Coinciding with DRCLAS’ 30-year anniversary, this year also marked our 30th edition—and our first time in Brazil.

The timing could not have been more significant. Opening our Summit on March 15 in Rio de Janeiro, Justice Cármen Lúcia, former President of Brazil’s Supreme Court, recalled that “40 years ago, on this very date, we celebrated the formal reestablishment of democracy in Brazil.” The Summit became both a commemoration and a living exercise in democracy, bringing together 450 students from 10 Latin American countries—some experiencing democratic backsliding—to debate the region’s future.

Partnering with leading figures such as Professor Steven Levitsky, Federal Deputy Tabata Amaral, and Rio’s Secretary of Education Renan Ferreirinha, students across 18 multilingual committees addressed urgent regional challenges, from climate and public health to gender-based violence, indigenous rights, pandemic governance, and environmental impacts of foreign investment. Brazil’s democratic trajectory offered a powerful lens for these discussions, especially as the country prepared to host COP30 and reaffirm its role on the global democratic stage.

2. HACIA brings together students from across the Americas to debate. How do these debates shape young leaders and what skills do they develop?

What makes HACIA so powerful is precisely the diversity of perspectives our students bring. Participants arrive from longer democracies and authoritarian regimes alike, and when they discuss human rights or democratic governance, those differences are felt at the table. This pushes students beyond theory to confront the real consequences of policy choices for communities like their own. By breaking down national silos, the debates foster cross-border collaboration, helping students understand how interconnected Latin America’s challenges are and how international institutions function. Along the way, they build practical skills in diplomacy, negotiation, research, public speaking, and cross-cultural teamwork—while being challenged to step outside their comfort zones.

To succeed, students must engage with opposing worldviews, question assumptions, and balance their priorities within broader coalitions. In a polarized era, this kind of intellectual flexibility is essential, making democratic engagement tangible rather than abstract. Most importantly, students leave empowered to contribute meaningfully to discussions on democracy and cooperation, learning that leadership is defined not by age, but by critical, empathetic engagement.

3. This was HACIA's first time in Brazil after 30 years. What did it take to make this happen, and what did you learn as student organizers?

Hosting the summit in Brazil had barely been considered before. Concerns about lower Brazilian participation rates and limited Portuguese speakers in the organization made it seem logistically challenging. But with two Brazilians on the new board, including one of the co-presidents, many organizers fluent in Portuguese, and increased Brazilian participation in virtual committees, we had the momentum to take on this challenge this year.

The logistics were immense: coordinating 450 students from 10 countries, organizing travel for 30 Harvard organizers, managing transportation and venues in Rio, building partnerships with Brazilian institutions, negotiating with public officials, and overseeing multi-currency budgets—all while completing our coursework and theses.

The experience taught us immensely about leadership, project management, and cross-cultural collaboration. It showed us that ambitious goals are achievable when you have a committed team and strong partnerships—lessons we'll carry into whatever careers we pursue. For Harvard students considering joining HACIA, organizing the summit is as transformative as participating in it. You develop skills in large-scale event management, fundraising, diplomacy, and crisis resolution that few other undergraduate experiences offer. Beyond the skills, you join an incredible close-knit community on campus and get to explore a beautiful place in Latin America together after working hard on it for a year—friendships that can last a lifetime!

4. This 30th edition made a major push for access and inclusion. Why is that central to HACIA’s mission, and what did it look like in practice this year?

If we want to cultivate inter-American democracy, we can’t limit participation to the few who already have access to international spaces. We are particularly proud that this edition prioritized accessibility and inclusion in unprecedented ways. For the first time in three decades, we introduced in-person Portuguese-language committees, which opened the doors for many more Brazilian students to participate fully and directly in the summit. 

We also established a formal scholarship program through partnerships with DRCLAS, Crimson Education, and Estudar+, supporting approximately 150 students—nearly a third of our participants—with partial or full financial aid. This approach proved essential to HACIA’s mission. Many of our most engaged delegates, committee leaders, and award recipients were students who joined through these inclusion initiatives.

Broadening access goes beyond fairness. It’s about ensuring that HACIA truly reflects the richness of Latin America and creates opportunities for young people who are often excluded from spaces of international dialogue. When the people at the table look more like the region itself, the conversation about democracy becomes both more honest and more hopeful.

5. What legacy do you hope the 30th Summit leaves for participants and for the broader conversation about democracy in Latin America?

We hope this summit leaves participants curious and eager to continue engaging in democratic dialogue at conferences and in their daily lives. Democracy happens in everyday conversations, in community organizing, in the choices we make about how we treat disagreement and difference. If students leave understanding that democratic practice is something they can exercise every day, we'll have succeeded.

This year also demonstrated something important: young people are eager to learn about these issues and contribute meaningfully to solving them. The record numbers of sign-ups and participation proved this. What's often missing are spaces where that interest can be channeled into substantive action and dialogue. 

When students understand how decisions are made and learn to advocate effectively for their perspectives, they gain confidence in their own ability to participate in civic life and shape the future of their countries. HACIA showed that it's possible, with commitment and support, to create spaces where people from vastly different backgrounds can have serious conversations about the sociopolitical challenges facing our region.

If this summit's legacy is that future editions continue expanding access and demonstrating youth's capacity for leadership, we'll know we've contributed something lasting to the conversation about democracy in Latin America.

HACIA is hosted hosted in a different Latin American country each year, allowing participants to experience genuine cultural immersion. This year, organizers and delegates explored Rio's iconic landmarks and neighborhoods. Next year, HACIA's 31st Summit takes place in Bogotá, Colombia, in March 2026—and registration closes February 16th, 2026! Learn more here.

Dariana González Aguilar graduated from Harvard College in 2025 with a concentration in Integrative Biology and a Language Citation in Portuguese. She served as the 30th Co-President of HACIA Democracy. As DRCLAS' 2025 Steve Reifenberg Fellow, Dariana returned to her home country to research tadpole ecology in the Sierra Norte mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Sarah Aguiar Borges is originally from Goiânia, Brazil. She graduated in Psychology from Harvard in 2025 and served as the 30th Co-President of HACIA Democracy. She is currently researching youth mental health as a PhD student in Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, funded by a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.