"Transforming education" is the slogan proposed this year by the United Nations to emphasize the differential value that quality education plays in the integral development of young people. With this, it seeks to highlight the efforts made to offer a more inclusive and accessible education for young people, but also the active role they play in this fight.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, groups of young leaders committed and determined to transform their reality and inspire their peers to build a better future together through different causes, such as environmental protection, end of violence, equality, have been developing. gender, inclusive, equitable and quality education, prevention and eradication of child labor, among others.

One of these young leaders is Lina Alvarado, from Colombia, she is 28 years old, an industrial designer, teacher and national youth leader of the 100 million per 100 million campaign in her country, a global initiative promoted by Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize winner. , which calls on the young people of the world to fight against child labor so that more children and adolescents fully enjoy their rights, such as quality education. 

We spoke with her to learn more about her career, her perspective on youth and the work she has been doing as a youth leader in the fight against child labor in Colombia. 

Lina, in 2015 you led a project to raise awareness about children's rights that broke Guinness World Records. What was its impact?

The project was part of the “Trapitos con amor” campaign of the Un Mundo Mejor organization, and consisted of collecting pieces of cloth that would make a giant doll. The campaign had a national scope, with the collaboration of schools, universities, companies, municipalities, etc. and it was possible to manufacture an 8-ton doll, which was officially presented at the time by the president of Colombia and with which the importance of ensuring the rights of children and improving public policies focused on this was socialized. group. Personally, this project also allowed me to put into practice my knowledge and studies in Industrial Design since, together with a colleague, we took care of the design and manufacture of the doll. 

For Lina, being a youth leader means inspiring others for a positive, proactive and purposeful attitude. The leader must motivate them not to give up and share their knowledge with others.  Her interest in the well-being of children began while she was in college studying Industrial Design, when she offered as an intern in the organization Un Mundo Mejor, focused on promoting the rights of children in Colombia, and where she was inspired and trained to be a leader. By the time he finishes his work at 100 million per 100 million, he plans to create a foundation that works with children through art.

If you had to highlight two key characteristics of young people, what would they be?

The first is the ability to propose. The second, the impetus and perseverance with which they do things despite the fact that they can be silenced.

From your experience, what motivates young people today to join movements and campaigns with social impact? 

I think the motivation is in the feeling of indignation about events that we see or experience in our contexts, in our towns. I have seen many cases of young leaders in their territories who have had the opportunity to go out and make their situation known, they have managed to make themselves heard. Definitely, I think it is the desire to want a change when, for example, governments do not take effective action on real and urgent needs, when corruption in public administration is evident and political interests are superimposed on social ones. Also, I consider that the digital media are a great support as free channels and this motivates. In Colombia, there are many young  youtubers who talk about politics, society and culture. 

Why is the voice and participation of young people so important in the processes of change? In your country, how is the promotion and participation of young people in these processes going?

It is not necessary to be in a situation of vulnerability to support initiatives, for example, such as the fight against child labor. Understanding this is key because, at least in Colombia, it is often believed that only those who live in vulnerability can speak out and be supported. The participation of young people implies empowerment in the transformation processes of our contexts. Young people not only have the ability to plan and build change, but we will also have the opportunity to experience it as adults. In case we cannot see it, as adults we will already be on track and experienced to continue creating it. We young people are the ones who are going to be able to tell the story of the changes.  

As for Colombia, in 2013 Law 1622 was created,  known as the youth law,  which encourages the inclusion and participation of young people in social, economic, political and cultural affairs of their community. The Colombian youth movement is strong especially in political issues, protection and care of the environment and in the recovery of the memory and history of the territories. 

What advice would you give to young students and professionals so that they can contribute from their fields to the construction of a more just world?

The first advice is that we must be persistent and disciplined; These are key factors for those of us who want to help build a more just world. Another is that we must learn from the empathy and nobility of boys and girls. Also, we must listen to adults, their experience gives us a lot in the personal and professional sphere. Finally, that we enjoy our youth very much, because it is a stage that gives us energy and desire to do great things. 

You have already been working for a fairer world. What is your role as a national youth leader and what achievements have the youth team of the 100 million by 100 million campaign had in Colombia?

As a national youth leader, I am in charge of creating work nodes where I can share awareness-raising issues and methodologies to empower other young people on the issue of prevention and eradication of child labor. One of the team's achievements has been the decentralization of the campaign's actions and being invited by the Ministry of Labor to collaborate in efforts in this regard.

Child labor in Colombia 796,000 boys, girls and adolescents, between 5 and 17 years old, are victims of child labor. Between 2012 and 2016, child labor went from 8.7% to 7.3%. Source: ILO

How can quality education prevent adolescents from entering child labor and thus promote inclusion in the territories?

Adolescents have to, above all, live their stage and train to reach the maturity of knowledge and skills that they will need to get decent jobs. Education services must respond to pre-existing living conditions. For this reason, national education policies must be strengthened, to ensure access to quality education, with inclusive participation and that the resources allocated to the fulfillment of this right are effectively used in the territories for the benefit of all. 

Finally, what message would you give to adolescents and young people on International Youth Day?

"Great victories are achieved through effort and discipline" this phrase is key for young people, as they tend to want immediate results from their efforts. " Lina alvarado

We are in the best time of our lives, with vitality, dreams and hopes, which hand in hand with our youthful characteristics such as impetus and proactive capacity will always help us to get ahead. 

 

If you live in Latin America and the Caribbean and want to join 100 million per 100 million, write to:   [email protected]  or to  [email protected]