By Estefanel Gutierrez Perez
Councillor of Barranquilla

Talking about youth today implies an image of energy, integrity and a great desire to continue building a better society. It also means that young people have become generators of hope, even for different generations who today look with admiration at all the achievements that youth have achieved.

Social dynamics move and advance by leaps and bounds, the ways of seeing the city and its future are becoming more demanding and integrate points of view that require a serious commitment to satisfy the demands of a youth population that constantly requires the search for spaces for participation so that their voice is heard.

I hear these young voices on a daily basis in the streets and in the neighborhoods, like in the case of Flawer Restrepo, a kid from Barlovento who saw education as an opportunity to get his family ahead, and the questions, queries and doubts end up being the same: “How do we get hired if we have no experience?”, “We have to work in something other than what we studied because we barely graduated”, “They don’t pay us well”, “Who supports our ventures?” This scenario poses important challenges as social and political leaders to put our skills to work in search of solutions to the concerns of today’s youth.

In Barranquilla, in recent years, efforts have been made to create spaces for young people to find ways to channel their full potential and preparation.

It is enough to know how in Barranquilla it is reflected in figures such as those of the Dane in its most recent Integrated Household Survey that, for issues of employability, the number of employed young people, between 15 and 28 years old, continues to rise reaching 45.7%. There are 212,953 young people who were working in the city during the last quarter of last year, but the task still remains to link more than 40,171 young people who are currently unemployed, this without counting all those who are left out of the official measurements.

The latter are eager to be made visible, and although it is recognized that efforts have not been sufficient, this is where the motivation to commit to promoting strategies and projects for our children comes from. And precisely within these ideas to achieve efficiency in issues related to youth, the fact of being able to count on a dedicated and exclusive entity that prioritizes and looks after the specific needs of young people has been raised in various scenarios. These same people who no longer believe in a development plan that they expect to be binding, in front of a Council that supports them, in front of a Caribbean group in Congress that does not turn a blind eye and in front of a National Government that does not make them invisible.

The labor market for young people in Barranquilla presents encouraging indicators, according to recent data from Dane. These positive indicators reflect a favorable environment for the labor insertion of this population in the city. However, despite this good news, there are still important challenges that must be addressed to ensure that they have equal and fair opportunities in the labor market.

The participation of young people in the political and social life of the city is essential. Their inclusion in decision-making and policy formulation ensures that their needs and concerns are effectively addressed. Young people have a crucial role to play in building a more just and inclusive society, and they need to be given the space and support to do so.

From the local administration, it is essential to consider youth as a priority axis in public policies. This implies not only guaranteeing their participation in political and social life, but also creating programs and projects that respond to their specific needs, such as access to quality education, opportunities for decent employment and spaces for the development of their skills and talents.

It is important to recognize that young people are a source of inspiration and change in society. They are no longer just the future, as has been commonly said, but they are the present, with the capacity and will to build their own future. It is necessary that this contribution of theirs be recognized and valued, and that they be given the necessary support and resources so that they can reach their full potential and contribute significantly to the development of Barranquilla and the country in general. Young people must inspire other young people to actively participate in society and get involved in building a better future for all.

Our more than 400,000 children in Barranquilla are the ones who are giving us the task today and it is we as a society who must fulfill them. We are in arrears.

Are you in?

We are the kids of the neighborhood.