Half of the planet’s inhabitants are under the age of 30 and it is predicted that, by the end of 2030, young people will make up 57% of the world’s population. These figures, presented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), show us one thing for sure: we are living in an opportune historical moment to understand that the energy and innovation that young people bring with them can drive social and economic progress and directly influence the sustainability and resilience of their communities and nations.
Despite favorable conditions for development, due to the fact that there are more people of working age than dependents in the world, millions of young people still face situations of vulnerability and human rights violations.
And it was with the importance of giving visibility to youth issues and giving these people a voice that the United Nations (UN) created International Youth Day in 1999, celebrated annually on August 12.
Thus, these challenges are becoming more prominent and invite us to propose joint solutions that allow young people to develop their potential to make the necessary changes.
Fighting ageism: a pillar for the future
This year, in commemoration of International Youth Day, the Fraternity – International Humanitarian Missions (FIHM) brings an essential theme to the indigenous communities served by the Indigenous Cultural and Training Center (CCFI) in Boa Vista – Roraima, Brazil: “the importance of solidarity between generations.”
Integration between young people, adults and the elderly is fundamental for society as a whole. For indigenous peoples, the lack of this integration can represent the risk of cultural loss.
In indigenous societies, elders play a vital role as guardians of ancestral wisdom, traditional practices and oral history. If these generations are devalued or isolated, it could mean that the younger generation will not have access to this knowledge. By combating ageism, discrimination or prejudice based on age, intergenerational integration is strengthened, ensuring that traditions, rituals and stories are preserved and passed on effectively, promoting the continuity and cultural richness of indigenous communities.
The Fraternity – Humanitarian Missions (FIHM), through the practices developed by the CCFI, such as fostering artistic and cultural expression, technical training, learning Portuguese, preparing for the job market and developing entrepreneurship, enriches the community with a diversity of perspectives and skills and encourages the building of strong and meaningful bonds between young people and adults as a path to a more cohesive future.
The coordinator of the Roraima Mission, Aajhmaná, emphasizes that “at the CCFI we develop activities called ‘knowledge meetings’, where members of an indigenous people share ancestral knowledge with other indigenous people, without the presence of non-indigenous people. These meetings value traditional practices such as cotton picking, the production of clothing, the making of clay pots and others. These are crucial moments for involving young people, allowing them to learn and practice knowledge that they had often only heard about from their grandparents.”
Cultural exchange
The technical training offered by the CCFI to young indigenous people is very important for their entry into the job market and for promoting self-sustainability, both for them and for their families and communities, as well as strengthening the local social and economic fabric.
Indigenous youth Jose Leonel (Anakok) shares that his experience at the CCFI enriched his knowledge and personal development and enabled him to “explore the traditions of different indigenous peoples, as well as improving his technological and communication skills.”
In the vocation course promoted by the Indigenous Cultural and Training Center, young people of different ages from the Macuxi people took part in activities that included information technology, vocational dynamics, an approach to the concept of multiple intelligences, the Ikigai methodology and manual and artistic activities.
Jerliuso, from the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, in the municipality of Normandia, in the state of Roraima, highlighted the importance of the vocation course, which sparked his interest in computer science and provided him with new knowledge to share with his community. He also mentioned the value of traditional activities and the dance group he takes part in, which celebrates Macuxi culture.
Raniele highly valued the lessons she had learned, especially as they were new to her, and said that she would pass on the knowledge she had acquired during the vocation course to the other young people at her school and to the young people in her community.
Traditional indigenous medicine: ancestral knowledge
The training on traditional indigenous medicine offered by the Indigenous Cultural and Training Center (CCFI) and focused on by the indigenous woman Evelis Cliffe (Arasary), passed on valuable practices to the representatives of all generations who took part, ensuring that indigenous knowledge continues to be an accessible tool, valued by all.
The meeting not only promoted the continuity of indigenous healing traditions, but also strengthened the intergenerational link and the exchange of knowledge, as everyone was able to share their knowledge and questions.
Arasary points out how willing the adults were to share their experiences, while the young people were very interested in learning. “It was an exchange of knowledge and ideas that helped strengthen the connection between generations.”
A Common Future
By promoting collaboration and understanding between young people, adults and the elderly, we are taking an important step towards a fairer and more equitable society.
In a context of rapid technology and labor market changes, promoting collaboration between generations becomes even more important. The activities developed by the Indigenous Cultural and Training Center have proven effective in connecting different age groups and fostering an environment of mutual learning.
Professor André Sobral, a representative of the Arlindo Gastão de Medeiros Indigenous State School and a partner in activities developed by the CCFI, emphasizes how intercultural encounters and collaboration between generations are decisive in promoting mutual respect and for preserving and strengthening indigenous cultures.
“This integration helps us to understand the current situation of young people and to develop education and life practices that foster a healthy and sustainable environment, respecting nature and others.”
On this International Youth Day, we are called to reflect on our role in building an inclusive future and to remember that creating a better world for all ages is not an isolated task, but an ongoing effort that requires everyone’s participation.
To find out more about the actions of the Fraternity – Humanitarian Missions (FIHM) to promote the socio-economic inclusion of indigenous peoples and strengthen their culture, go to:
