SOLIDARITY NETWORKS FOR OTHER ECONOMIES

Learning and Practice of Solidarity Economies: Youth Agroecological Commercialization and Solidarity Networks in Southern Mexico

In southern Mexico, soy plantations, industrial pig farms and transit-oriented megadevelopment projects threaten the flourishing of campesino livelihoods for the next generations. Campesino and indigenous youth experience the pressure of leaving their communities in search of jobs in agroindustry or tourism. They face losing access to their homelands, native languages and ancestral practices. However, their collective efforts to maintain these critical relationships and cultural resources now energize a new initiative CAN accompanies–CAJAC, a youth-centered community of learning and practice that leverages agroecological knowledge and production by youth and within communities for building other economies. 

Agroecological family farm.

CAN is joined by regional partners and seven civil society organizations in the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas. These organizations have persistently focused on building solidarity economies based on their agroecological products and/or created educational spaces to reconnect youth to ancestral practices. They have integrated over 40 youth with deep roots in their homelands, committed to the defense of land and culture, and with the creation of solidarity between and within their communities.

The youth are currently working on eleven economic initiatives, including honey and other products derived from raising native bees, delivery of weekly vegetable boxes, and aggregating backyard chicken eggs for sale at local markets.  

Together we are renewing solidarity networks built from the context, history and cosmovision of campesino and indigenous communities. In partnership with youth, we reflect on the importance of placing the needs and relationships of community life at the center of commercialization and trade. We learn from each other about the rhythm of dignified livelihoods, guided by respecting the relationship to the land rather than ever-increasing productivity. Youth are the critical actors that rise up to confront the multiple pressures that push them out of their communities and away from transforming their local food systems.

First CAJAC mini-fair and product presentation.

Join us as we work towards strengthening youth-led, community-controlled agroecological cooperatives and collectives. Every dollar you contribute to CAN up to $50,000 will be matched through December 31st!