- Bachelor's Degrees
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- Graduates in action
Graduates in action
When Francisco Galeazzi began studying Communication at Austral University, he was on a personal quest. He knew he loved photography and had a genuine interest in social issues. His degree provided him with the necessary tools to create Huellas (Footprints), a project born from the desire to share stories that can change the world through audiovisual material. A project conceived entirely on his own, it grew fueled by passion and a strong work ethic, eventually becoming what it is today: a digital media outlet – Huellas – comprised of a team of communicators and filmmakers prepared to tell the stories that are changing the world, and a communications agency – Kunda – that provides services such as video production, photography, digital marketing, social media, and web design, among others. He also teaches a storytelling workshop for students at the Faculty of Communication.
Francisco graduated from Austral University and highlights the support he received as a student: “Huellas gradually emerged thanks to a personal search and the Universidad Austral That had a lot to do with it, because I always found time to chat with the professors and get the perspective of someone with more experience, both professionally and personally. Every step I took was validated here.".
It all started with a trip that changed his life.I went to Mozambique to build classrooms and I took my camera with me, even though I didn't know much about it yet. When I felt like I was part of the community, I started taking photos, showing everyday life. I knew that what I was experiencing had to be shared.” The result of that trip was a 10-minute video featuring family and friends, created to raise funds for others traveling to Mozambique for the same purpose. It was then that he knew he wanted to create something that combined photography with social commentary, something that would endure. Professor Victoria Tonelli, a language instructor at the university, helped him find his identity, eventually leading to the name Huellas (Footprints).
Last year, Huellas began a transformation process. Since the pandemic, their workload has increased significantly, and the team has grown accordingly. Today, Huellas has nine members, joined by several freelance collaborators (including some Austral graduates). Always focused on inspiring action, they decided to become a media outlet. That is, to generate content without relying on third parties for its distribution.
How do you think you are helping with Huellas?
Raising awareness and encouraging more people to join the cause. We want people who see our posts to know they can lend a hand right in their own backyard. And that, perhaps, by playing football for an hour, they can change a life.
And as a teacher, what mark would you like to leave on your students?
If this workshop sparks their curiosity to learn and become interested in what's happening in the world, I feel my goal will have been achieved. I hope some of the kids will be interested in storytelling through audiovisual media.
What would you say to a FC student who is finishing their degree and has to enter the ML?
He should listen to himself and take the time to figure out what he wants. And he should work hard, at anything. Work gives you the tools to learn. I would also tell him not to get frustrated if his first job experiences aren't good, but to try to transform that frustration into something positive, into learning and new opportunities.
“We want to be the Google Maps of airports,” says Lucía Lasaga, an Austral graduate, CEO and co-founder of tripper, a novel web app that offers guidance to people with disabilities to facilitate their stay in airports around the world.
Lucía is a certified public accountant from UNICEN and holds a master's degree in Tax Law from the Universidad AustralSince birth, she has lived with a visual and hearing impairment that, in some way, prompted her to think about this new venture.
“I love to travel, and when I travel alone, I find the signage very complicated. For example, I need to take a picture and zoom in to see a flight. On one occasion, I requested assistance services, and the only response was a wheelchair, which I don't need. Besides taking away your independence, this assistance also creates problems with other passengers who—seeing me walking—think I'm taking advantage of the situation to get on the plane first,” she explains.
Based on these experiences, and after researching the airport experiences of many people, he began to consider developing an application to help those who travel through airports. Facilitating accessibility for everyone is the goal of Tripper, the web app that was launched in beta in October of this year.
Lucía dreams of Tripper generating a large user community, bringing together all the people who belong to countless groups and forums on websites and social media. Today, she says, there's nothing similar. "While the travel experience seems universal (beyond the financial aspect), it's not quite so, as many people encounter various difficulties that make the experience less enjoyable," she explains.
According to data provided by Lucía, 15% of the population has a disability. “Three hundred and six million people passed through Ezeiza Airport throughout 2022, and almost four million of those people have some type of disability. But when you look at the sustainability reports, you realize that only 8.000 people received assistance. This means that a large number of users had to manage as best they could.”
With the clear objective of helping people with disabilities and their companions, Tripper offers valuable content with varied information such as required documentation for traveling to less popular destinations, accessibility services at New Delhi airport, and gluten-free food options at Ezeiza airport. “In addition, we would like to discuss other issues that aren't talked about as much. For example, a person who uses a wheelchair today cannot access an airplane bathroom. This is a complex and uncomfortable situation, and we would like to address it and propose possible solutions.”
How Tripper Works
Tripper's interface is simple and innovative: after registering, users must indicate whether they are interested in a specific disability, such as visual, motor, hearing, or neurological impairment, or if they accompany someone with one of these disabilities. If, for example, they answer "motor disability," they will be shown related information, such as which wheelchair batteries they can bring to their destination. Next, they will be asked if they prefer to read the information, supplement it with audio, or only listen; in this way, Tripper adapts to individual needs. Each user who joins becomes part of this global network of travelers who share information to facilitate accessibility for other travelers.
“We aspire for design to bring human touch and warmth. And we know that artificial intelligence offers us endless possibilities. If flying makes you nervous or causes you stress, we can support you emotionally thanks to artificial intelligence,” she explains.
Did the master's degree you completed at Austral provide you with the tools for this project?
Those were two wonderful years of personal and professional growth; thanks to that, I was able to generate the income that allowed me to develop Tripper. In addition, I completed a Master's degree in Tax Law, and taxes are the... core any product startupThe master's degree allowed me to grow, and if I have doubts today, I have the tools to clear them up and I know where to go to find answers.
To learn more about Tripper:
