She/her

Açucena Marinheiro da Silva (19), Brazil

Açucena is a young Indigenous woman from the community of Tumbalalalá in northern Brazil, she actively participates in the Cunharai Ikhã ("Girls in Struggle") project. Through this initiative, she addresses territorial issues and explores the impacts of capitalism particularly agribusiness and mining on Indigenous communities and the broader population.

"The future is today, without demarcation there is no democracy."

She/her

Alma Xochitl Zamora Mendez (28), Mexico

Alma is a Nahua Indigenous woman from the Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico, she is the daughter of Yolanda and the granddaughter of Elena and Rosa. A student of communication and journalism, she is passionate about amplifying silenced voices and experiences. She has integrated and coordinated projects aimed at promoting the development of her community.

"I hope that the meeting will help us to strengthen our hearts and our individual and collective struggles."

She/her

Audrey Luiza Almeida Gonçalves (26), Brazil

Audrey is originally from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, she holds a degree in Environmental Engineering. Since 2017, she has dedicated her career to critical, transformative, and emancipatory environmental education. She has engaged in socio-environmental projects in Florianópolis, supporting vulnerable communities. Over the past two years, she has actively contributed to Climate Adaptation projects, developing strategies for a low-carbon economy in Brazil.

"The solution to the climate crisis is integrated and led by a broad and diverse front of young people."

She/her

Camila Romero (26), Chile

Camila is an Andean woman from southern Chile, in Mapuche ancestral territory, she is an anthropologist, socio-environmental activist, and advocate for Indigenous and environmental rights. She currently coordinates community communication projects with biocultural relevance and is involved in an international network of environmental defenders through Colectivo Viento Sur.

"We, the youth of Abya Yala, are the renewal of the seeds that our ancestors cultivated five centuries ago. With them we bring memory, energy and hope."

She/her

Daniela Soares da Silva (30), Brazil

Daniela, a geographer and socio-environmental activist, founded the "Aldeias" project in Altamira, Amazonia. Her work focuses on reconnecting Amazonian children and youth with their cultural identity amid large-scale development challenges. A passionate advocate for children's rights, she encourages their active participation in climate initiatives. Her motto, "A rua é noiz!" (The street is ours!), reflects her commitment to youth empowerment.

"Reforesting minds and hearts"

She/her

Guidaí Vargas Michelena (29), Uruguay

Guidaí is a member of the Basquadé Inchalá community on the outskirts of Montevideo, she leads the project "Memory, Restoration, and Indigenous Ancestry." Alongside a group of women, she works on the ecological restoration of the heavily polluted Pantanoso Stream. She believes in collective action for a world where all voices, including that of Mother Earth, are respected.

They/them

Pepe Villalobos (26), Mexico

They are originally from Chiapas, Mexico, they are a 25-year-old non-binary person. With a background in psychology, they are both a climate activist and an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the South. As a writer, they create fantasy stories inspired by the legends of their people. They are also a member of the People's Ecologist Assembly.

"I have learned that one of the greatest acts of resilience and resistance in the face of climate crisis is to create community."

She/her

Maria José Andrade Cerda (28), Ecuador

She is a member of the Kichwa Serena Community, part of "Yuturi Warmi," the first Indigenous women-led guard in the Ecuadorian Amazon. She studied International Relations and is pursuing a master's degree in Rights of Nature and Intercultural Justice. Actively involved in women's empowerment projects, she coordinates the Runa Yachay community school and participates in FOIN’s youth network.

"We are the resistance, we are the land, we are the river, we are the seed." - Yuturi Warmi

He/him

Raylson Santos from Lima (20), Brazil

Raylson Santos, a 19-year-old farmer and journalism student, is motivated by opportunity and the drive for change. Passionate about education and environmental awareness, he seeks to demonstrate how these elements can transform the lives of rural youth and create a more sustainable future.

"I want to contribute to the climate change debate through my experiences in family farming and mobilizing rural youth."

She/her

Valeria Belén Cerpa Salas (27), Peru

She is an architect, urban planner, and sustainable cities activist, she works at the intersection of project management, web development, and data. In 2021, she founded the Data for Resilient Spaces project under the GI-TOC Resilience Fund grant. Her expertise includes interactive maps, data analysis, participatory workshops, and the development of digital tools for community resilience.

"Sustainability is not just a long-term goal, it is a daily commitment to the decisions we make in our present to build a better and more equitable future for all."

She/her

Wara Iris Ruiz Condori (28), Bolivia

She is an Aymara descent,  a triple-impact entrepreneur, eco-social mentor, and sustainability consultant. A Young Leader of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) 2022 fellow and Max Thabiso Climate Ambassador 2023, she also serves as Country Ambassador for Youth Opportunities. Founder of MUSA ECOLAB, she leads initiatives like Slow Food Bolivianos and Green Voices for food security and environmental advocacy.

"Forming networks for sustainability and climate resilience of peoples, a commitment I carry."