Initiative aims to strengthen youth skills to become agents of transformation in their communities.
Last month, the community of Bom Jesus, located in the Médio Juruá region (AM), in the Uacari Sustainable Development Reserve, welcomed more than 100 participants from various local communities to take part in a political training course. With the aim of reclaiming the territorial identity and the fight for the guarantee of rights, which began between the 1970s and 1980s with the Base Education Movements (MEB), the first module of the course began a complete training focused on the development of young leaders.
“The course highlights the importance of youth empowerment and investing in programs that enable young people to become agents of change in their own communities and territories. It is important that they understand the role and responsibilities of youth leadership in the Amazon region and how they can be catalysts for local civic and political engagement,” says Raimundo Cunha, president of the Association of Extractive Residents of the São Raimundo Community (Amecsara) and one of the region’s young leaders.
The course is an initiative of the Fórum Território Médio Juruá (Fórum TMJ), carried out by Amecsara and Instituto Juruá, organizations that strengthen production chains and articulation in the territory, and is supported by partners such as: Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), Fórum Território Médio Juruá, Sitawi, SOS Amazônia and Brazil-Germany Cooperation for Sustainable Development (GIZ).
Community organization, democracy and citizenship
The first module provided participants with an immersive experience and provided a journey of discovery about the importance of leadership in community social organization. With a focus on establishing the fundamental foundations for civic and political engagement among local youth, the youth were encouraged to reflect on their role as agents of change in their own environments and in the context of the Amazon. In total, the training includes 10 modules — three of which already have guaranteed funding.
“The course was a true inspiration for us, young people from the communities. In this first module, we learned not only about leadership theory, but also about how we can make a difference in our own communities,” shares Mikaele Paixão Figueiredo, a course participant and resident of the São Raimundo RESEX Médio Juruá Community.
Female empowerment
Gender equity in leadership was also a focus of discussions in this first module. According to local representatives, gender diversity in leadership has been associated with more effective decision-making and more ethical and responsible management. As a result, women have increasingly taken on management roles.
"By exploring topics that are so important for developing good leadership, I believe we are empowering young people (men and women) to become effective leaders committed to the sustainable development of their communities. In addition to empowering women to occupy decision-making spaces," emphasizes Maria das Neves, member of the Association of Agroextractivist Women of Médio Juruá (ASMAMJ).
Inclusion of indigenous peoples
The Médio Juruá is home to indigenous communities whose cultural traditions and ancestral knowledge play a fundamental role in preserving biodiversity and environmental sustainability in the Amazon. During the course, young indigenous leaders representing the Kanamari, Deni and Kulina peoples — who were participating in the course — had the opportunity to share with others the perspectives of territorial identity of the original peoples of the territory in a discussion panel.
''I recognize that we are having our voices heard, and these spaces of opportunity are important for us to speak and hear how much we can be part of this transformation and how much we can be leaders, but also be prepared to fight for sovereignty, being people with our rights respected, ours and those of our territories'', says Adriana Lima, indigenous health agent and representative of the Kulina people.
The Middle Juruá Territory
The Médio Juruá Territory, which encompasses two conservation units — the Médio Juruá Extractive Reserve and the Uacari Sustainable Development Reserve, three Indigenous Lands (TI Deni, TI Matatibem and TI do Taquara, and a fishing agreement area) — has references in its history of struggle for sovereignty and quality of life, with the right to remain in the forest. In addition to the Indigenous Lands mentioned, the Kanamari TI of the Juruá River also participated and can bring its perspective on occupying the territory. These stories motivate local youth to continue on the path of empowerment and leadership in favor of the region.
Since 2017, Sitawi has been raising and managing financial contributions for the Médio Juruá Territory Program (PTMJ). It also participates in its design and programmatic implementation in partnership with local organizations (AMAB, AMARU, AMECSARA, ASMAMJ, ASPROC, ASPODEX, ACFRC and CODAEMJ). In the current phase, together with USAID/Brazil, the Partners for the Amazon Platform (PPA) and Natura, the program brings together projects led by the territory, supporting the pirarucu and oilseed value chains, in addition to actions for territorial protection, governance, female entrepreneurship and youth.
