Mercedes is 16 years old and lives in Tunshi Grande, a Kichwa community more than 3,000 meters above sea level in Chimborazo, Ecuador.From there, she can see Taita Chimborazo, the closest point to the sun from the center of the Earth. But what interests her is not the summit but what happens below: the water that rises in the moors, the soils that feed the chakras, and the plants that heal her people. She recently told us about her two-year journey with the Youth Storytellers program, a space … [Read more...] about “We Are One”: Mercedes, a Young Kichwa Woman, Speaks on Nature, Community & Indigenous Knowledge
Youth in Agriculture
How a Young Agriculture Student in Burkina Faso Turned Passion into Purpose
'In the heart of every young person lies the potential for greatness' Unknown In many rural African communities, youth are often perceived as detached from agriculture—more drawn to city life and office jobs than farming or community-based livelihoods. This perception partially reflects a reality: youth still see conventional farming as labor-intensive, poorly paid, and lacking dignity, and the lack of jobs in rural areas pushes many to leave their home in search of opportunities … [Read more...] about How a Young Agriculture Student in Burkina Faso Turned Passion into Purpose
Ecuadorian Youth Draw a Future Free of Chemicals and Rooted in Nature
Across the globe in December, we honor International Mountain Day (December 11), International No Pesticide Use Day (December 3), and World Soil Day (December 5). These days bring awareness to the critical role of soil, mountains, and regenerative agriculture in sustaining life. This year, youth storytellers from our local partner EkoRural in Ecuador stepped forward with thoughtful drawings that inspire us to reconnect with the earth. Their art calls out harmful agricultural practices, … [Read more...] about Ecuadorian Youth Draw a Future Free of Chemicals and Rooted in Nature
Young Leaders Shaping the Future of Food Systems Through Film: Looking Back on the 2024 Field to Film Festival
Each year, the Field to Film Festival marks a milestone for our Youth Storyteller Program, a unique initiative where young leaders learn to capture and share the stories of their families and the agroecological solutions transforming their communities. This year, through bold and creative storytelling, they ignited movements of hope and change across diverse corners of the globe. Stories that resonate across borders In 2024, over 50 young storytellers brought their communities' stories … [Read more...] about Young Leaders Shaping the Future of Food Systems Through Film: Looking Back on the 2024 Field to Film Festival
A Poem in Honor of Environmental Health Day, Written by Youth in Rural Honduras 🌿
"No more fires... Would you incinerate your own lungs?" This moving poem, written by youth from smallholder farming families in rural Honduras, reminds us that nature speaks—her groans echo the destruction we cause, but also the hope that we can protect her, and ourselves, by choosing a different path. "Care for the air we breathe as you would for yourself, every drop of water, every crop, every fruit, every medicinal plant." Our well-being is tied to the air we breathe, the water we … [Read more...] about A Poem in Honor of Environmental Health Day, Written by Youth in Rural Honduras 🌿
La Semana Mundial del Agua 2024 Vista a Través de los Jóvenes de América Latina
Cada agosto, la Semana Mundial del Agua reúne voces de todo el mundo para reflexionar y actuar en torno a la gestión del recurso más vital para la vida: el agua. En un planeta donde más de dos mil millones de personas carecen de acceso a agua potable segura y se proyecta que, para 2050, más de la mitad de la población mundial enfrentará escasez de agua, América Latina y el Caribe se encuentran en una posición crítica. A pesar de concentrar un tercio de los recursos hídricos del mundo, esta es … [Read more...] about La Semana Mundial del Agua 2024 Vista a Través de los Jóvenes de América Latina