Youth Impact Leaders celebrate International Youth Day
Published on December 7, 2023 by Glasswing
The Glasswing Youth Impact Leaders for Central America Youth Festival 2023 took place from August 22 to 25 in Guatemala and Honduras. Themed “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World,” the event brought together over 1,400 young individuals from both countries to commemorate International Youth Day.
The festival provided a platform for young people to exchange ideas and celebrate their potential to drive change. It highlighted the importance of committing to sustainable development.
In Guatemala, the festival was held in the cities of Huehuetenango and Quetzaltenango. Activities included workshops on green skills (recycling, composting, and urban agriculture), along with artistic and cultural presentations.
The event garnered support from key allies, including the Reproductive Health Observatory (OSAR), the Ministry of Labor, World Vision, Peace Corps, the Foundation for the Integral Development of Socioeconomic Programs (FUNDAP), and the Secretariat Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Trafficking in Persons (SVET).
Honduras also hosted the festival, in the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. There, activities centered on workshops covering financial education, entrepreneurship, and environmental sustainability.
Notable strategic partners were the FICOHSA Foundation and the Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce.
As a grand finale, popular local artists Napoleón Robleto (Guatemala) and Polache (Honduras) showcased their work.
The Youth Impact Leaders Program is a service learning initiative originally funded with exclusive support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. Launched in partnership with Glasswing and implemented with other local organizations, this program aims to build hope and enhance rooting and community pride by harnessing the power of youth to effect positive change in their communities. The program offers opportunities to young people between the ages of 15 and 22 through a first-work experience, a monthly stipend for six months, and a parallel learning program for an additional six months to strengthen their life skills.
