By Elio Villaseñor G.
Director General of Citizen Initiative for
the Promotion of the Culture of Dialogue, AC
“Today's youth is tomorrow's strength“
— Nelson Mandela
We live in a time of many changes.
For young people, this time is full of doubts, challenges and important decisions, but also of opportunities to grow, learn and transform their reality.
Nothing is completely defined, and that's precisely where the possibility of creating something new and different lies.
As Nelson Mandela said, "Today's youth is tomorrow's strength," and that strength is built from the present.
We believe that attitude is everything: daring, trusting in yourself and not being afraid to make mistakes are key steps to move forward.
Dreams matter, but they become real when they are accompanied by effort, perseverance, and a desire to make things happen.
Today, young people have more tools than ever before: the internet, social networks, information, and spaces to share ideas.
Using them creatively and responsibly allows you to learn, innovate, and open paths that did not exist before.
It's not about copying the past, but about taking the best from it to face the challenges of the present with your own perspective.
Being young also means choosing to participate.
It is recognizing that each person can influence their community, contribute to others, and become an active part of the changes that are needed.
Learning independently, making conscious decisions, and working collectively strengthens not only individuals but also society.
In this new phase of the Plataforma Juventudes editions, we want to walk alongside you.
This space was created to share experiences, ideas, learning, and voices that inspire and support young people in their personal and social development.
Our commitment is clear: to encourage young people to recognize themselves as protagonists of their own history, capable of building a fairer present and a dignified life for everyone.
This is corroborated by Dayron Escorcia in this edition, who points out that a great initiative that seeks to amplify the voice of youth through publications that do not force censorship of the essence of what they want to convey is the spirit that GOYN Barranquilla has built with the collaboration between the members of the Youth Advisory Group and the YouthES Platform.
In that vein, Itzel López Cuéllar refers to job inclusion programs, which, she indicates, play a fundamental role in the professional development of young people, not only providing them with opportunities but also impacting their self-esteem and personal confidence. Along these lines, Iffath Sharif and Jamele Rigolini (from the World Bank) pose a key question when analyzing the labor market and assessing whether these programs work, but rather: What makes the difference between a program that has a real impact and one that fails?
At the regional level, Daniela Trillos (Colombia) explains that young people must take initiative and assume leadership with good causes and noble purposes to foster skills, as triggers for the construction of a more humane and collaborative society.
Finally, Alix Lilian Castillo (Barranquilla, Colombia) indicates that the goal is to prioritize the emotional well-being and mental health of young people, and emphasizes: "Mental health as a form of resistance in the new generations."