Cultural Survival's 2019 Indigenous Youth Community Media Fellows are hard at work. The Fellowship Project aims to support young Indigenous leaders between the ages of 16-26, who are committed and eager to learn about technology, program development, journalism, community radio, media, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights advocacy. Capacity of the fellows will be built through trainings, community radio station exchanges, and conference attendance.
This fellowship is an opportunity to assist fellows in their visions to represent the voices of their communities and bring awareness of local issues to global conversations through their proposed projects, all the while strengthening their cultural identity and leadership.
Martha Ortiz Gómez (Maya Mam) from Radio Nan Pix, in San Ildelfonso Ixtahuacan, Guatemala
"Being part of a community radio is another way of resistance and transmitting to the people that we exist," says Martha. Martha was nominated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada for the recognition of Human Rights in Latin America because of her work advancing the rights of women and girls in Guatemala with MOLOJ, which advocates to promote the rights of Mayan women in Guatemala. Cultural Survival is honored to be supporting the incredible work she is doing in her community through our Youth Fellowship program.
Ronald José Fernández Epieyuu (Wayuu) from Utay Stereo in Guajira, Colombia
Ronald graduated from La Escuela de Comunicaciones del Pueblo Wayuu (the School of Communications of the Wayuu People) which promotes the La Red de Comunicación del Pueblo Wayuu (Wayuu People's Communications Network). He recently completed his first audio chapter from the Nuchonyuu Juya ("Children of the Rain") educational radio program series that promotes Wayuu culture and traditions. The first chapter captures the Ka’ulayawa festival and features the voices of elders who have lived through these celebrations and explores how youth relate to Ka’ulayawa.
Kankuamo Youth Commission (Kankuamo) from Atanquez, Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, Colombia
Youth from the Comision de Jóvenes Kankuamos participated in a radio program with Tayrona Stereo discussing what it means to be an Kankuamo youth in celebration for World Radio Day.
Manuel David Loja Pugo, Jessica Tatiana Sarango Rumipulla, Cristofer Arévalo Rumipulla, (Kichwa) from Radio Kimsakocha in Cuenca, Ecuador
Youth from Radio Kimsakocha have been in the field collecting material for one of their radio programs that focus on Indigenous leaders and the historical struggles in the Cuenca area. They met with members from the Aalñgunos community, unfolding unwritten stories and history of the Tarquí people.
