Young people mobilized in networks

In the framework of Fe y Alegría’s mission, thousands of young people all over the world are organized to collaborate and work to solve priority issues that, from their vision, must be transformed. Networking has allowed them to achieve a greater impact and they serve as an inspiration and example of the effect that can be achieved if we join our efforts.

Young people tend to value networking with special sensitivity, perhaps because of the interconnectedness that characterizes their generation. They understand that together they can have a greater effect, they know what is happening beyond their borders, and they know how to take advantage of technological tools to communicate and collaborate.

Under the motto “Youth transforming through action”, young people from more than ten countries on different continents participate in training and promote collaborative projects around the world. All this effort is part of the Generation 21+ Network, an international network of youth participation formed by young women and men committed to social change. This network brings together youth groups and representatives working for social transformation in participation networks related to Fe y Alegría in more than 22 countries in South America, Africa and Europe. During these months we have been reminded that it is not only possible to work in a network, but that it is much more effective and allows us to join forces for a greater outreach.

This movement brings together national networks with their own dynamics. One of the biggest sub-networks is the Red Solidaria de Jóvenes de Entreculturas, which has been linking young people and teachers from all over the world for 19 years with the aim of creating networks for the construction of a global citizenship and to respond, through mobilizing and advocacy action, to the challenges of the international agenda.

These are some of the activities that have been carried out:

• Conversation on “The Transforming Power of Youth”, led by Colombia
• Workshop “Youth, Communication and Advocacy in a Culture of Peace”
• “Day of Outraged Youth”, co-led by Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras
• “Project Construction of Citizenship from Art”, co-lead by Argentina and Brazil
• RG21+ Information Workshop in “Action to Transform the World”, led by Spain
• “We feel our way to influence”, led by Argentina and Colombia
• “Peace Festival”, co-lead by Argentina and Brazil
• “Online mobilization for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women”, led by Spain.

With the organization, collaboration and participation of young people from all these places, we have promoted the work in an international network such as RG21+, which seeks to provide spaces where young people are the ones who propose, research, organize and carry out the activities that promote improvements in their environment. Without them, change would not be possible, and if RG21+ has taught us anything, it is that together we are more.