Young People Raise their Voices to Promote Inclusion and Citizen Participation
BY LUISA RUANO / TRASLATED JON LOTT
In Guatemala, young people between 13 and 30 years old represent more than a third of the population (35.6%), with those over 18 years old making up the majority of the youth population (61.9%), according to the United Nations Population Fund.
Currently, young people face several challenges to be heard and included in different sectors of society, especially if they live in rural contexts or with little access to education, health and recreation.
Brillith Ramírez, a Guatemalan woman originally from Huehuetenango, is the leader of a group of young people. She talks about the transformation and active contribution that young people make to society. She calls for finding strategies that provide opportunities for personal and community development.
“We do not have to see youth as a monetary investment of the moment, but as an investment to have a different future,” highlights Rosy Recinos, leader of the Colibrí Program of El Salvador. Rosy considers the exchange of experiences important because the population faces challenges such as climate change and other social problems, so she suggests asking ourselves how we see ourselves in the next 10 or 15 years, how do I want my family to live?
For Anthony Cazun, a young Salvadoran, it is important that government entities and other support organizations open spaces of opportunity for the population of rural areas, he asks that aid be decentralized to achieve profound changes.
These opinions were part of the Regional Youth Meeting led by the Horizons Initiative, of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) organization, which brought together young people from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, participants in leadership projects, sustainable agriculture and social development, who discussed topics such as leadership and citizen participation.
The director of the initiative, Rafael Merchan, spoke about the importance of responding to the needs of youth in the region, giving them a voice and listening intentionally to empower them and help them face their challenges.
Forging Lives
Horizontes currently works with groups of young leaders in three regions, Huehuetenango, San Marcos, and Ixcán. The aim is to provide a space for ideas, training, and their important participation in agriculture and livelihoods, as a source of food and sustainable economy for Guatemalan families.
In the context of August 12, the recent date that marked International Youth Day, it was an opportune moment to address the current situation of young people and the challenges for society related to coexistence and care of the planet, to ensure a future with better conditions for future generations. The objective was to promote youth participation and leadership in CRS projects in the region through the exchange of experiences, the identification of challenges, and the promotion of best practices.
This summit is a unique opportunity for young people in the region to share their experiences, strengthen their support networks and develop strategies for more active participation in their communities. Horizontes invites all interested parties to follow the event on Instagram @horizontesgt and join the conversation using the hashtags #IniciativaHorizontes, #JuventudHorizontes and #VozJuvenil2024.
Horizontes is dedicated to improving agriculture and livelihoods in the Guatemalan highlands by sharing regenerative agriculture practices, including zero and minimum tillage, cover crops and green manures. The initiative also works to empower youth in the region through training, scholarships and seed capital, equipping youth leaders to lead the transformation of rural economies.
Luisa Ruano is a social communicator and journalist. Communication consultant and digital content producer.
