Within the framework of the Networks for Agrifood Transformation project, Rimisp – Latin American Center for Rural Development, held the third and last cycle of virtual workshops for agroecological leaders.. The objective of this program was to strengthen the leadership and empowerment skills of young people who aspire to become dynamizers in their territories.

This cycle included the participation of 15 young people from the Mayan Q’eqchi’ (Guatemala), Quechua (Bolivia) and Nahuatl (Mexico) communities.. The five sessions, developed online between May 7 and June 11, 2025, addressed topics such as community leadership; dialogue facilitation in the territories; youth empowerment strategies; digital platforms and leadership; and community project formulation. Workshop facilitators included Diego Reinoso and Tatiana Aguirre from Rimisp, Eleodoro Baldiviezo from Rimisp’s team of Prosuco in Bolivia, Irma Aguirre of Cesder in Mexico and Arnoldo Coc of Sank in Guatemala.

Three workshop cycles: More than 50 young participants

With the completion of this third cycle, the Workshops for Agroecological leaders—held throughout the three years of the project—came to a close.” In total, more than 50 indigenous youth actively participateddeveloping tasks and exchanging valuable experiences virtually.

The previous cycles have included innovative activities such as the Photovoice toolwhich allowed the young people to express their reflections through photographic exercises and stories about their role in the field. Through the Photovoice exercises they addressed crucial questions such as:

• What does it mean to be agroecological?
• Implications of agrochemical use.
• Effects of climate change.
• The value of natural production and community learning.
• The cultural relevance of its traditional dishes.

The Networks for Agri-Food Transformation project, supported by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, aims to contribute to the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems in three rural territories in Latin America (Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico; Alta Verapaz, Guatemala; and Torotoro, Bolivia). The initiative seeks to rescue and enhance the value of the agro-food practices developed by the indigenous and peasant communities of these territories.