By Dilan Stevan Lucumi Chara

I am a young Afro-Colombian lawyer and leader from the municipality of Suárez, Cauca, specifically from the Belén neighborhood. My story is born in a territory full of cultural richness and deep social struggles, where many families have had to face great challenges and where, often, the dreams of young people seem to collide with a lack of opportunities. I grew up watching friends and neighbors with enormous talents, but with limited paths to develop them. That’s why I understood early on that I had to contribute so that new generations could find different options and believe in a possible future within their own territory, through transformation via education and participation.

For me, to lead means to serve. Over the years I have accompanied community processes with children and young people, promoting spaces where art, culture, and participation become alternatives to violence, unemployment, and lack of opportunities. Through the Redubuntu Foundation – Soy Porque Somos (“I Am Because We Are”), we have driven initiatives that strengthen cultural identity, encourage the positive use of free time, and promote knowledge and defense of young people’s rights, including a beautiful initiative called “vincúlate a este parche” (roughly, “join this crew”), which creates safe spaces for children and adolescents.

The most valuable part of this journey has been seeing how young people who once doubted their abilities now lead cultural processes, return to their studies, or become an inspiration to others. Every story of transformation confirms that community work truly changes lives and that it’s worth continuing to invest in the development of our communities.

What drives me is love for my territory and the conviction that we all deserve dignified opportunities to grow. I dream of a Cauca where young people don’t have to leave their land in search of a better future. My commitment is to keep working so that our communities become the protagonists of their own development, and so that no young person feels that their dreams are unreachable.