Manel Bentefrit

Manel Bentefrit is a young elected official and activist from Laval, aged 21, who grew up in a working-class neighborhood with nothing but her determination. From attending a public meeting at the age of 10 to holding a position as a delegated municipal councilor for the fight for gender equality and against discrimination, she has never waited for doors to be opened for her; she has pushed them open herself.

President of the association Pop&Co’53, she advocates for a popular and inclusive form of environmentalism, convinced that neighborhoods must be at the heart of transitions, not on the margins. A law student, a Banlieues Climat trainer, and a winner of public speaking competitions, she uses her words and her journey in pursuit of a single goal: to turn injustice into concrete victories.