Rural Youth: Key Agents of Change

Changemaker: Diana Quintana Roo

Rural Youth: Key Agents of Change!

The empowering of the youth through proper training as leaders of their community is the basis of this Project. Through our experience we have detected that the growth of a healthy and inclusive economy in the community is the best way to impulse different projects to reach a true sustainable development. The local production of fruits and grains is compromised by profiteers, which take advantage of the lack of organization among the integrants of the community. It is only through a well organized structure that these problems can be overcome. It is the youth providing them with the skills and necessary tools to achieve their goal. Already with 3 comities formed, we are in training process for developing a fair trade network of farmers-consumers, where a percentage of the surplus generated will be invested through a “green find” to improve their way of living in a sustainable way. It is trough youth where we find the potential to change the paradigms in their community, their energy and dedication is the best tool to achieve this goal.

“Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If, however, they are left on society’s margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies.” — Kofi Annan