Trash cart superheroes

Our world has
many superheroes.

But they have the worst of
all superpowers: invisibility.

For example, the Catadores,

workers who collect recyclable
materials for a living.

Catadores emerge from social
inequality, unemployment,

and the abundance
of solid waste

from the deficiency of the
waste collection system.

Catadores provide a heavy,
honest and essential work

that benefits the
entire population.

But they are not
acknowledged for it.

Here in Brazil, they collect
90 percent of all the waste

that's actually recycled.

Most of the Catadores
work independently,

picking waste on the streets
and selling to junk yards

at very low prices.

They may collect over 300 kilos

in their bags, shopping carts,
bicycles and carroças.

Carroças are carts built
from wood or metal

and found in several
streets in Brazil,

much like graffiti and
street art.

And this is how I first met these
marginalized superheroes.

I am a graffiti artist and activist

and my art is social, environmental
and political in nature.

In 2007, I took my work beyond walls
and onto the Carroças

as a new word of
support for my message.

But at this time, giving
voice to the Catadores.

By adding art and humor
to the cause,

it became more appealing,

which helped call attention
to the Catadores

and improve their self-esteem.

And also, they are famous now
on the street, on mass media, in social.

So, the thing is, I plunged
into this universe

and have not stopped
working since.

I have painted over 200 Carroças
in many cities

and have been invited to do
exhibitions and trips worldwide.

And then I realized that Catadores,
in their invisibility,

are not exclusive to Brazil.

I met them in Argentina, Chile,
Bolivia, South Africa, Turkey

and even in developed countries such
as the United States and Japan.

And this was when I realized

that I need to have more
people join the cause

because it's a big challenge.

And then, I created a collaborative
movement called Pimp my Carroça.

which is a large
crowdfund event,

Thank you.

(Applause).

So Pimp my Carroça is a large
crowdfund event

to help Catadores
in their Carroças.

Catadores are assisted by
well-being professionals

and healthcare-like physicians,
dentists, podiatrists,

hair stylists, and message
therapists and much more.

But also, they also receive safety shirts,
gloves, rain coats and eye glasses

to see, in high definition, the city,

while their Carroças are renovated
by our incredible volunteers.

And then they receive
safety items, too:

reflective tapes, horns
and mirrors.

Then, finally, painted
by a street artist

and become part of part of this
huge, amazing mobile art exhibition.

Pimp my Carroças took
the streets

of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
and Curitiba.

But to meet the demand
in other cities,

including outside of Brazil,

we have created Pimpx,

which is inspired by TEDx,

and it's a simplified, do it yourself,

crowdfund edition of
Pimp my Carroça.

So now everybody can join.

In two years, over 170 Catadores,

800 volunteers and 200 street artists

and more than 100 donors

have been involved in the
Pimp my Carroça movement,

whose actions have
even been used

in teaching recycle at a local school.

So Catadores are leaving
invisibility behind

and becoming increasingly
respected and valued.

Because of their pimped carroças,
they are able to fight back prejudice,

increase their income and
their interaction with society.

So now, I'd like to challenge you

to start looking at and
acknowledging the Catadores

and other invisible superheroes
from your city.

Try to see the world as one,
without boundaries or frontiers.

Believe it or not,

there are over 20 million
Catadores worldwide.

So next time you see one,

recognize them as a vital part
of our society.

Muito orbigado, thank you.

(Applause).