Juventud, presente, presente, presente!

We head the cry of the youth of the Americas that resounded at the workshop for youth in Guatemala, a workshop called Youth in Action.

We held the face-to-face workshop for youth from StreetNet International member organizations in the Americas region. From March 31 to April 4, 13 self-employed youth from across the Americas, members of StreetNet International, met in Guatemala. The workshop is part of a multiyear global project by StreetNet focused on youth organizing of informal economy workers, which will this year (2025) be implemented in Africa.

The objective of this workshop was to strengthen youth leadership in StreetNet member organizations in the Americas, as well as to provide them with the necessary tools to continue driving change in their organizations, since as young people and leaders they are driving substantial changes in each organization and therefore in their country of origin and in the region. The role of youth is recognised by StreetNet Constitution, and the role of youth organising is encouraged by the organisation as a whole.

The workshop was organized by our national affiliate in Guatemala, FENTRAVIG, and was also attended by allies such as CSA-TUCA and trade union representatives, as well as experts, such as press officer and communication trainer Graciela Mora, from WIEGO.

The group of young people gained knowledge on how to create a key message, how to respond to the media at the right time. In addition, a document was produced in which the participants created the first youth manifesto of StreetNet: “Young workers, independent, self-employed or in the informal economy”.

In the workshop, they were able to express and shape their position on current world events that clearly affect youth, in which they could indicate that youth demand rights and social justice, as well as a space in the leadership of organizations and in their countries, so, they are empowered by claiming education and training to achieve a quality of life and welfare, which has been denied to working youth throughout our continent.

StreetNet welcomes the position of the young workers and gives its full support to the work of the youth of the Americas, as we are committed to the formation of a leadership attuned and aware with the current events in the Americas region

Article & Photos by Américas Regional Communicator Daniel Peralta.