International Youth Network for Food Security & Sovereignty
In 2011, CAN established the Youth Network for Food Security & Sovereignty (FSS) to promote a model of community youth leaders as the primary conduits for food system transformation. Since 2011, CAN has expanded its FSS initiatives, and consequently the Youth Network, into two more coffee growing regions in Nicaragua and México; a Maya region in México; and urban youth from Watsonville, CA.
Networking and training of youth leaders across these initiatives deepens knowledge and capacity, engenders beneficial exchange and strengthens innovation within each of the associated communities. The Youth Network has had four annual exchanges and two regional exchanges. In these exchanges, youth leaders have expressed a strong desire to expand the network to more youth, receive more training in agroecology, and build stronger national and international youth platforms for knowledge exchange and advocacy of strategies to achieve food sovereignty.
Youth Leaders at CAN’s 5th Annual Youth Exchange in Santa Cruz, CA.
History
Intercambio came about as a result of a study conducted by one of CAN’s researchers in 2011. After discussion among project managers, it was determined that youth leaders from the projects needed to be included in the annual project meetings if the network was to grow and be sustainable. The youth also would benefit from meeting one another and learning from the exchange of experience, skills, and friendship.
Structure
Each year a planning committee comprised of CAN, RIAC youth from partner organizations carefully plans the Intercambio. Together we review evaluations and major themes arising from the previous year and with RIAC youth identify topics to be covered that year.
Youth leaders at CAN’s 6th Intercambio in Nicaragua discussing action plans for the year.
Thematic workshops and knowledge exchanges are developed to improve skills needed to strengthen agroecological practices and food sovereignty in their communities including food processing, preservation, grey water reuse systems, and seed keeping. The aim of this work is to strengthen the structure and functioning of the Youth Network; improve youth participation and capacity to support food sovereignty processes in their communities; strengthen ties across CAN and Youth Network partner organizations; and, exchange skills and knowledge between network members.
International Exchanges
The Seventh International Youth Exchange for Food Sovereignty (Intercambio) was hosted by Santa Cruz and Watsonville youth, FoCAN & Growing Justice. By making connections across generations and borders, discussions centered on their connection to the land and their communities. Youth shared ideas, experiences, sentiments, and knowledge to continue their community’s due history- who they are, what they have been, and what we will become together.
Intercambio Memoria 2019 English — DOWNLOAD HERE
Intercambio Memoria 2019-Español — DOWNLOAD HERE
- Changes in the lives of youth leaders (demonstrated leadership capacity, education levels, changes in aspirations, relationships within and external to their communities)
- Changes in their communities and their food systems (adoption and application of innovations by community members)
- Youth leaders’ participation in regional and global efforts to advocate for their communities and the biocultural landscapes they call home.
- Strengthen structure and functioning of the Youth Network.
- Improve youth leadership capacity to support food security and sovereignty in their communities.
- Strengthen ties across CAN and Youth Network partner organizations.
- Exchange skills and knowledge between network members.
- Develop strategies for managing funds to support the development of the network.
Youth as Seeds of Agroecology in Connection, Harmony, and Resilience. This virtual event took place September 22–24, 2020.
Download Memoria HERE.
Aquí se encuentra el cartel y programa en español.
View a compilation of the videos created for the cocina compartida during the 2020 virtual Intercambio.
Youth Resisting Erasure and Planting Buen Vivir (Good Living) October 11-12 2021
How do we resist erasure and plant community good living? Our 9th international youth exchange on food sovereignty was our first virtual gathering and at its peak brought more than 50 youth from North to South.
Youth Pollinating Seeds of Life & Health of Territories Amid the Sickness of Monocultures
This was our second virtual intercambio gathering held on November 25-26, 2022
Youth Multiplying Knowledge of the Land and Networks of Life to Defend Communities from North to South in Action, Autonomy, & Agroecology.
This event took place in Valle Sagrado De los Incas in Cusco, Peru. A collaboration with Asociación ANDES where more than 100 youth gathered from March 31st to April 7th, 2024.
Regional Exchanges
The result were detailed plans that included production calendars, market studies and marketing plans, logistical plans for transport and delivery of products to possible markets, marketing tools like logos, and budgets. In the case of Tabasco, the women’s group and UIMQRoo students working with them identified chile habanero and other garden produce as their main products, and the youth leaders from Veracruz built their business plans around patio eggs and garden produce.
Encuentros
Fire is the spark in our territories that enliven our work towards food sovereignty. 2023
“The fire is the work that the youth are taking on in their territories, its cultivating the land, its planting the urban and home gardens, regenerating the soil, cultivating the forests, having healthy foods. The fire that feeds us and allow us to light the stove and cook our foods, it is sharing experiences and knowledge that enliven the knowledge of traditional practices and knowledge that is interwoven with other territories. It’s the spark that allows us not to remain silent in the face of injustice, it’s defending ourselves from the different forms of oppression, its not allowing our knowledge and practices to be stripped from us, raising our voice and linking us with experiences that come along the way” Eider Vega RIAC member Montes de María Colombia.
This encuentro brought youth together to meet new networks and created a space to analyze the use of fire in farming systems.
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