Coming to America!

Activista is coming to America – or at least to Latin America. Eighteen youths have met to create the basis for a more vivid movement for activism on the continent.

It is the first time that ActionAid International holds a Latin American Activista seminar – a youth network with the potential to become one of the most powerful and visible activism networks in the world. Foto: Christian Korsgaard.

By Christian Korsgaard, information advisor, MS Central America – ActionAid Denmark

The heat is close to unbearable in the Salvadoran city of Suchitoto.

The summer sweat leaves the faces of the eighteen youths in big drops during this second week of training. During all this time they have shared dormitories, restrooms, daily lives, and dreams. But the hammocks at the Global Platform are empty, because there is no time to rest. The world has to undergo changes, and time is passing by way too fast.

It is the first time that ActionAid International holds a Latin American Activista seminar – a youth network that according to international coordinator Bjørn Hansen has the potential to become one of the most powerful and visible activism networks in the world.

”I don’t think there is another network like Activista in the world. But it is absolutely crucial that we develop Activista into a global movement, because even if the consequences of the world’s inequalities are mostly felt by the poor, the causes are to be found all over the world. Therefore young people have to stand together and fight globally against the causes of poverty, and proposing alternative solutions.”

A huge opportunity for the youth

Regional coordinator of Activista, Marcelo Montenegro from ActionAid Brazil, also sees the youth movement as a huge opportunity.

“Activista is a place where young people wishing to work for a better world without poverty, can get together. They can find each other and make demands at local, national, regional, and international level. In Activista it is possible to speak to everybody,” says Marcelo during a break in the video editing session at the seminar.

The participants in the seminar in El Salvador are not only gathered to create a common platform from which to work in relation to for instance the Millennium Development Goals, but also to learn new tools and ways to work.

”I believe that I have learned a lot at this seminar, both in relation to for instance producing a video, which is something I couldn’t do before. But I have also learned how to make campaigns in a different manner. Maybe we shouldn’t make so many demonstrations any more, but rather use other media and thereby reach our audience more efficiently,” says Saturnina Morales from the Guatemalan organization CUC. At the seminar she has also received training in the use of blogs as a way to make her messages heard around the world.

Two new networks

But in spite of the concrete training taking place, Marcelo Montenegro does not try to hide the fact that ActionAid and Activista has a specific purpose with this first, continental seminar in Latin America.

“We want to build an Activista network in the region, in order to give young people a possibility for exchanging experiences, share knowledge, and make activities together. We also want to give them the opportunity to communicate with youth in the other countries where Activista is already operating.”

And the 18 youths actually picked up the baton passed on by Marcelo Montenegro before leaving El Salvador last week, as they decided to establish two new networks – one in South America, the other in Central America. The overall, continental coordination will be undertaken from the offices of ActionAid Brazil. Bjørn Hansen is very satisfied with this development.

”Latin America has a long tradition for social movements, training and youth participation. One can feel the strength that the participants bring to this seminar, and they can provide a lot of energy and experience to Activista. I am very satisfied with the process,” concludes the international coordinator of Activista.