"In tough times, young people grow stronger."

Within the framework of the XII International Postgraduate School of the RedINJU, “Inequalities, rights, public policies and participation of girls, boys and young people”, which took place from May 7 to 10, Sara Victoria Alvarado, from the Center for Advanced Studies in Childhood and Youth (CENEAJ) and the International Center for Education and Human Development (CINDE), in Colombia, spoke with CLACSO.tv.

Regarding Colombian youth, he stated: “I have lived through the experience in my country where young people were completely criminalized for many years, a very long period. The Uribe era is a long period in Colombia, not only coinciding with his presidency, but also representing an entire political era of criminalizing youth. And seeing those young people in Colombia today supporting Petro's government and witnessing the mobilizations of 2021 gives one hope of how these processes can be reversed.”

Reflecting on the current state of youth in other Latin American countries, he noted: “Just as I saw Brazil a few years ago, today I see Argentina mired in a very sad situation, and they seem somewhat hopeless. And it's very sad to see young people like this. But I am absolutely convinced that this is a transition to something better and stronger because I feel that in these difficult times for young people, they grow stronger. And the day they cry out for freedom, they cry it differently.”

Interviewed by Gustavo Lema.