This text is part of the special section on International Cooperation
At the instigation of a young activist, a wasteland, dangerous and strewn with waste, in the Colombian town of Palmira, is reinvested by families and children as a place to live and raise awareness of the environment.
Visually, it looked like a dump,” says Leidy D. Lasprilla in Spanish about a large vacant lot in the Campestre district of Palmira. “For example, you saw a tree, and next to it, you could see a holey and dirty sofa, and pieces of cardboard. »
Gender spaces are common in Colombia’s marginalized and violence-torn neighborhoods, the young woman describes. They rarely benefit local communities. They are often neglected and become associated with crime and waste.
But in just four months of effort, the place has been radically transformed. “Children have started to take ownership of these spaces,” she says. Here we dance, we sing, we paint. Mothers sit in the park to watch the children. We offer workshops for children on various themes, such as the conservation of biodiversity or recycling,” she adds, showing photos of children who have graduated as environmental defenders.
The agency of a young leader
This small feat was possible thanks to the leadership of Leidy D. Lasprilla, a young biology graduate, Colombian activist and human rights defender. To this end, the young Colombian took the virtual training “Connectons pour les droits” from the human rights education organization Equitas, based in Montreal. The training aims to build the capacity of participants to carry out human rights education activities. “The training allowed me to use several tools, such as legal documents from the United Nations, and helped to strengthen my leadership skills,” says the young woman with gratitude.
Thanks to a scholarship, the young activist studied biology at a good university in the country. After being forced to move out at the age of 13 due to the climate of violence in her neighborhood, Leidy D. Lasprilla became involved in her community at an early age. She quickly became an environmental leader with Artex social, an organization that aims to provide tools and skills to young people aged 5 to 15 through educational workshops and activities such as dance.
“As a biologist, I realized that there was a great lack of knowledge of the environment and that I had the responsibility to do something so that these children and young people could reconnect with the ecosystem”, observes the biologist. She proposed the project World green [Monde vert] for the Campestre district, which thrilled the Artex social team. It was the beginning of the transformation of the vacant lot into a green space used by the community.
The importance of environmental education
But the challenges are daunting. “There is a difference between the action of cleaning the area and people stopping throwing their garbage there, observes Leidy D. Lasprilla. I understood that environmental awareness is a job that requires the community to unlearn and rethink [ses actions]. This is the real change that must be had. »
“We started to educate [les enfants] on biodiversity or recycling, and to do artistic activities with the elements [des matières résiduelles] that we found, like the plastic caps”, she describes, specifying that part of the project also consists of working with the parents. “We started giving them a sense of belonging to the place. »
In his opinion, raising awareness among children and young people can have a tenfold impact in the community, while training the leaders of tomorrow who will undertake far-reaching actions. “I feel proud and happy to have had an impact, not only on the environment, but also on people’s lives,” she says. I feel that I can do more, and I feel a great responsibility [à poursuivre dans cette voie]. By working collectively and including people in vulnerable situations, great things can be achieved, and global commitment generated. »
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.