Leya Merlini did not grow up in a wealthy family.
Yet from a very young age, she learned that impact is not a matter of privilege but of conviction.

At just six years old, Leya crossed borders for the first time to take part in the creation of a water well in Africa—an experience that shaped her worldview and her understanding of humanity.

Today, at ten years old, she brings that same child’s perspective to a subject that remains deeply sensitive: skin color—too often associated with judgment, fear, or rejection. Through the honesty and clarity of a child’s voice, Leya invites us to question what we see, what we project and what we pass on.

Her first book, “Être noir.e”, is a powerful and accessible reflection on identity, difference and dignity.
It will be published and distributed to thousands of children across France, offering a tool for dialogue, understanding and empathy from an early age.