Seeds of Resistance: Indigenous Youth Defend Ancestral Lands

In southwestern Colombia, Indigenous Nasa children are nurturing a quiet revolution. Armed with painted wooden signs and armed with environmental pledges, they're symbolically navigating a route lined with conflict history and environmental challenges to safeguard their ancestral lands.

Nearby, ominous graffiti and road warnings bear testament to a region still plagued by violence, despite nearly a decade since the FARC peace accord. Here, the 'semillero' weekend school plays a vital role, offering young people lessons in environmental stewardship and cultural resilience against the backdrop of drug trafficking and guerilla warfare.

Local leader Daniela Secue emphasizes the program's importance amid growing regional challenges. The semillero hopes to dissolve youth vulnerability to violence by reconnecting them with their heritage and instilling a duty of land care. This grassroots movement is pivotal in revitalizing degraded land and reaffirming Indigenous identity within a troubled terrain.

(With inputs from agencies.)