Young, empowered leader – an interview by Antonio Cruz S.

Cristian Pintín is a 21 year old that lives in the Celina Ramos community, in the Suchitoto municipality of El Salvador. In May 2015, for the first time, he participated in the Congreso de Jóvenes Liderando por la Pachamama in Suchitoto. This experience made him reflect on his participation in creating a community that takes care and protects the environment, and also shine as a youth leader. Cristian said that being part of SERES is “one of my best experiences because SERES has shown me the beauty of nature, how cool it is to share experiences with people of different nationalities, lead with wisdom and enthusiasm, and be a SERES young person”. He works with a group of young environmentalists in his community and their action plan involves educating and maintaining their community clean, plus making eco bricks with batteries, planting trees and organizing events for young people. In June, two months after participating in the program in Suchitoto, he participated in a first level training for facilitators of SERES in Guatemala, which allowed him to begin the process of becoming a SERES facilitator or ambassador. Cristian added that young people is what inspires him. It’s important to teach a young person about leadership and how to do it with positive thoughts for self-care and caring for what surrounds us. “I’m inspired when young people that didn’t know, learn, then put into practice and make a difference. It’s surprising to transform a young person into a leader that can achieve change in himself and his community. Being part of SERES is a big privilege because I am part of a big family that is fighting for a change of thought and lifestyle. SERES is empowering young people to be the change in their families and communities by showing them that they are the present and the future of our planet”. For Cristian youth leadership “is something important that every young person should have, because we would guarantee having more young people with knowledge and capacity to transform the world, turn it around, and understand the reality that surrounds us and the one we can have. Youth leadership is the perfect too for the development of young people”. Cristian has participated in other SERES programs to acquire more capacities and knowledge. In August he was part of the Biodiversity and Permaculture Workshop, and he is now a SERES ambassador. Empowered youth, transformed communities!