Central America’s Youth Leaders

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Central America has come a long way since the civil wars of the 1980s. A new generation has come of age, growing up in a region that is at peace but confronting new challenges of crime, security, poverty, and inequality. Last May, 24 of Central America’s best and brightest—ranging in age from 17 to 36—gathered in Antigua, Guatemala, to create a leadership network that would work toward cooperative, cross-border solutions to address regional challenges. The Lideres del Presente conference brought together mentors and experts from Central America and abroad to discuss youth violence, disaster relief and civic youth engagement, among other topics. Organized by a group of Tufts University graduates and the Project on Justice in Times of Transition, the conference was funded by the FRIDE Foundation and the DARA Foundation. The young leaders are now working together to implement their action plans and commitments, and are expected to regroup in Panama in 2009.

In the Fall 2008 print edition, AQ highlights some of the new leaders that came to Antigua.

Tags: Antigua, Central American Youth, DARA Foundation, FRIDE Foundation, Guatemala, Lideres del Presente, Project on Justice in Times of Transition, Youth Leaders