The work in Quibdó

The department of Chocó is one of the most biodiverse regions, not only in the country but globally. At the same time, it is a department whose main economic sources depend on mining. This tension generates environmental, economic, and security challenges. Additionally, Chocó has historically been excluded from national decision-making processes. These factors make political participation by young people in national-level political spaces difficult. The Environmental Youth Academy aims to provide tools to mitigate these challenges and enhance the political representation of youth from Chocó.

As the first project, a proposal was developed and incorporated into the 2024-2027 Departmental Development Plan. This proposal includes the creation of a youth environmental school with a gender focus. The inclusion of this initiative in the plan was primarily driven by women participating in the Academy, and it was added to the Departmental Development Plan, which was approved by the Departmental Assembly. This first step was a significant achievement, as it represents progress toward creating a safe and effective space for debate and discussion on the protection of environmental rights.