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To empower Indigenous youth from La Guajira, Colombia, by building sustainable livelihoods through experiential training in climate-resilient agriculture, strengthening their technical, entrepreneurial, and leadership capacities while enhancing food security, economic autonomy, and long-term community resilience through a strategic alliance between Rotaract and an experienced local implementing partner.
“The Place Where Dreams Are Born†is a comprehensive initiative designed to transform the life trajectories of Indigenous youth from La Guajira by addressing critical structural challenges, including limited access to education, high unemployment, food insecurity, and vulnerability to climate change. These needs are particularly acute in rural Wayuu communities, where water scarcity and lack of economic opportunities restrict sustainable development pathways.
To respond to these challenges, the project establishes a “learning-by-doing†model centered at La Altamia farm in Dibulla, which operates as a living laboratory for sustainable agriculture. Through this approach, participants acquire hands-on experience in agroecological production, efficient water management, soil conservation, crop diversification, and climate-resilient farming systems. In parallel, the program integrates life skills and vocational guidance, fostering entrepreneurship, decision-making, and long-term planning.
A key strength of the project lies in the strategic alliance between Rotaract District 4281 and the Jerónimo Emiliani Foundation. While Rotaract provides leadership, international visibility, volunteer engagement, and access to global funding mechanisms, the Foundation contributes over a decade of field experience, cultural understanding, and technical expertise working with vulnerable populations. This partnership ensures that interventions are both contextually relevant and operationally effective, significantly increasing the project’s sustainability and scalability.
The project directly addresses identified needs by enabling youth to design and implement productive initiatives such as sustainable poultry farming, climate-adapted crops, and self-sufficiency models. These activities generate immediate and tangible outcomes, including improved food security, income generation, reduced reliance on informal or high-risk economies, and strengthened territorial rootedness, helping prevent forced migration.
The project is structured in three phases over an initial 18â€"24 month period:
1. Preparation and Capacity Building (Months 1â€"6): Participant selection, curriculum development, and foundational training in sustainable agriculture and life skills.
2. Implementation and Productive Development (Months 7â€"18): Hands-on agricultural production, establishment of pilot initiatives (e.g., poultry systems, crops), and continuous mentoring.
3. Consolidation and Scaling (Months 19â€"24): Strengthening value chains, evaluating impact, and preparing for replication and expansion to other communities.
Project funds will be allocated to:
• Infrastructure and equipment at La Altamia farm (irrigation systems, tools, inputs)
• Training and technical support in sustainable agriculture and entrepreneurship
• Seed capital for youth-led productive initiatives
• Operational costs, including logistics, monitoring, and evaluation
• Capacity-building activities and educational support pathways
Rotaract members will play an active and continuous role throughout the project, including:
• Project design, coordination, and strategic oversight
• Fundraising and partnership development (including Global Grant preparation)
• On-site and virtual mentorship for participants
• Monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting
• Knowledge transfer and replication strategy development
Designed as a replicable model, the project positions sustainable agriculture as a driver of community resilience and climate adaptation. By combining Rotaract’s global network with strong local implementation, the initiative seeks to scale its impact across similar vulnerable territories.
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