SEEDS of Knowledge with Joanizia Santos
SEED Early Childhood Educational Blog
Joanizia Santos is a Brazilian-born, UK-qualified journalist.
Seeds of Knowledge
As a Black woman born and raised in poverty in Brazil, I learned early that true freedom begins with education. I understand that education is more than qualifications and certificates on the wall; it frees our minds, expands our horizons, and builds the confidence to shape our own futures.
My educational pathway was shaped by a deep understanding of how knowledge can transform a life. Throughout my studies, I was often one of the few, and sometimes the only, Black person in the classroom. When I graduated as a journalist in Brazil in the 1990s, my class had 30 students and only two Black people, including me. Access to public funding was extremely limited, so I worked during the day and studied in the evening to pay for my education.
These experiences taught me profound lessons about belonging, representation, and confidence. They revealed how isolating it can feel when you rarely see yourself reflected in the people around you, in the curriculum, or in the spaces you occupy. At the same time, they strengthened my determination to learn, to question, and to create opportunities in places where others might feel excluded.
When I moved to London about 25 years ago, I noticed something that stayed with me for decades: the absence of Black people in cultural spaces. Parks, museums, galleries, theatres, libraries, and historical sites were open to everyone, yet they often lacked the diversity of the city around them. Despite London’s very different economic reality, the cultural gap and sense of isolation for Black people felt painfully familiar to my days as a young Black girl who was always the only one in the room.
For me, it became clear that, in the 21st century, it was still happening: I visited places and did not see Black representation, and this was more than an observation; I see this situation as a call to understand how what seemed normal to most people revealed deeper social realities to me. Over time, it became clearer that this lack of representation shaped my ongoing search to understand how my background influenced what I noticed and how I processed these experiences.
If we want a society that truly works for everyone, we cannot overlook the lack of representation in spaces where minority communities should be visible and included. Black people, in particular, must be encouraged and supported to participate fully in cultural activities and educational opportunities, because these experiences are essential for building knowledge, strengthening confidence, and widening future possibilities.
For far too long, access to education, culture, and public spaces was limited for Black communities, creating barriers that prevented many from engaging with environments that shape identity, belonging, and social mobility. Public policies around the world have begun to change these realities, opening doors that were once closed. In London especially, everyone can access cultural and educational institutions, but equitable participation still requires awareness, encouragement, and intentional inclusion.
I often sat in parks, attended public events, visited museums and galleries, and asked myself the same question: Why are so few, or no, Black families here? As a mother of my sons, who were born in London and grew up hearing me talk about my desire to see representation of Black people. Over nearly two decades, my sons heard my thoughts, yet eventually they began to see it for themselves. I was often one of the few Black adults in these spaces, taking my children to places where representation was scarce.
Still, I made it my mission to give my children the full experience of London had to offer. I took them to almost every park, museum, and cultural attraction in the city, not relying solely on short school trips. I believe that as parents, we must encourage, and often make sacrifices, to show our children the world, to teach them where we come from, and to guide them to understand how knowledge and critical thinking can change their lives.
One place that always stood out to me was the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens. It is one of London’s most beautiful and imaginative children’s spaces, free and open to all. Even though during my countless visits, I rarely saw Black families there. These episodes made me think deeply about barriers beyond cost: practical barricades like travel expenses, and even psychological barriers like entering spaces where you rarely see people who look like you.
I made a conscious decision to ensure my sons felt comfortable in cultural spaces and plant seeds of knowledge in them. Whenever possible, we visited museums, galleries, theatres, historical landmarks, libraries, parks, and exhibitions. I wanted these places to feel normal and familiar to my children.
Each visit became an educational experience. We explored history, art, science, architecture, literature, and the stories behind each exhibition. More importantly, we talked about representation, whose stories were being highlighted, whose voices were missing, and why that absence matters. I wanted my children to understand that culture belongs to everyone, not only to those who have traditionally occupied these spaces.
Over time, I saw how my sons' early contact with culture and education shaped their ability to observe the world independently. I truly believe my efforts to expand their knowledge helped them grow into citizens who are more inclusive, more aware, and more engaged with society. They learned to see cultural institutions not as places where they were merely visitors, but as spaces where they genuinely belonged.
I believe children who develop confidence in navigating different cultures and social environments, engaging with diverse people, and approaching the world with curiosity rather than limitation will form a generation guided by clarity. These experiences also reinforced my belief that cultural participation is essential to social mobility. Education does not happen only in classrooms. It happens in museums, theatres, galleries, parks, historical sites, and through everyday experiences that broaden our understanding of the world. All of these should be accessible to everyone, regardless of skin colour, ability, or social status.
This belief ultimately inspired me to begin charitable work. I am still in the early stages, but my mission is already clear: to break down barriers to participation, widen access to educational and cultural opportunities, and encourage people from underrepresented communities to engage confidently with spaces that have too often felt inaccessible. Our purpose is simple: to ensure that every child and every family understand that culture, education, and opportunity belong to them too.
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SEED Early Childhood is the Educational blog founded by Samantha Donnelly to bring professional knowledge to you.
Author: Joanizia Santos is a Brazilian-born, UK-qualified journalist.
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