I knew I would be a journalist since I was 6 years old. However, early in my undergraduate studies in Journalism and Liberal Arts in Ecuador, my home country, I realized that mainstream and social media did not always provide comprehensive coverage, and that different stories urgently needed to be told. Since then, I have committed my life both to the research and practice of this endeavor. I moved to Canada in 2012 to complete a Master’s degree in Anthropology, where I studied community radio stations in Ecuador. In 2016, I joined a doctoral program in Communication with the objective of deepening the understanding of the possible relation between alternative media and women’s health. I have also participated in different projects across Latin America and Canada related to communication and human rights for the past twelve years.
I joined the Global Voices team in March 2017. As the NewsFrames-Rising Voices Community Lead, I keep working in the intersections between the practice and research of communication, aiming to contribute to the creation and circulation of those crucial stories that still remain unheard.
Latest posts by Belen Febres-Cordero
Welcome the new year with these joyful traditions from Latin America
We share some cheerful, curious, superstitious, and adventurous customs from Latin America to say goodbye to the old year and open a new chapter in our lives.
Five Latin American media that refuse to be silenced
Journalism in Latin America is facing many forms of silencing. These independent outlets break through censorship with innovative ideas.
‘Ancestral medicine is wisdom, not witchcraft or folklore,’ says Ecuadorian philosopher
Ecuadorian philosopher and writer Tayta Sinchi explains why it is imperative to learn about the fundamentals of ancestral medicine.
‘Ancestral medicine offers a renewed hope for life,’ says Afro-Ecuadorian healer
An interview with María Eugenia Quiñónez Castillo, an Afro-Ecuadorian ancestral healer.
Not just ‘Jingle Bells:’ Listen to these Christmas songs from Latin America
Listen to the songs played in Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil.
What International Women's Day looked like around the world in 2021
"Although COVID-19 dampened participation in many countries, women still raised their voices on the streets on different continents, especially as the pandemic has worsened inequalities faced by women."
‘Women’s role in science is vital': An interview with Ecuadorian scientist Patricia Castillo Briceño
"We cannot afford to lose half of the scientific talent due to lack of gender equity."
2020: The year of feminist struggles and political resistance in Latin America
The year 2020 was marked by the role of feminist and social movements in helping bring about immense political changes in Latin America and the Caribbean despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are Romance languages becoming more gender neutral?
Each language is morphing in its own way -- and not everyone is happy about it.
‘Invisible hands': How millions of domestic workers fare under COVID-19
"We are the invisible hands. Our work is not valued. We don’t exist for the families we serve nor do we exist for the state."
Support networks essential to safely leave violent partners during Ecuador's lockdown
"It is imperative to break the culture of silence."
Breaking the cycle of domestic violence made more difficult during Ecuador's quarantine
"I’ve tried to leave my partner a few times, but he became the centre of my universe. That’s why, despite everything, I stay with him".
In Ecuador, an old family home is revamped as a residence for young mothers
"Some arrived with very low self-esteem and are now more confident and have started to feel more optimistic about their future."
Quichua, a language that sets us free
"Quichua was for me a language with which I cohabited, but I didn’t really know."
How Indigenous Communities Are Using Data to ‘Reframe’ Their Narratives Through Digital Storytelling
"Tools of this kind can become an element to analyze our communication work and guide us in choosing the best way to respond to the information generated by traditional media."
In the Depths of the Ecuadorian Amazon, Digital Communications Aid the Process of Self-Determination
In Ecuador, the Kichwa community of Sarayaku has been leveraging the power of digital technologies to share their own narratives about the long-standing struggle over land rights.
