I’d like to talk about Palmira, also known as “La Villa de las Palmas.” It is located in the southern region of the Valle del Cauca department, 26 km east of Cali, the department’s capital. We have a population of approximately 359,888, and according to the DANE (2025), we are the second-most populous municipality in the department, accounting for about 7.7% of the total population of Valle del Cauca.

In my city, youth political participation is a diverse and significant process in the exercise of democracy and local development. In Palmira, as established by the statutory laws on youth citizenship No. 1622 of 2013 and No. 1885 of 2018, young people between the ages of 14 and 28 have specific opportunities to influence public policy and play a leading role in social transformation through the Municipal Youth Council (CMJ), the Local Administrative Boards (JAL) (Law 1551 of 2012), the Community Action Boards (JAC) (Law 2166 of 2021), and school governments (Law 115 of 1994 and Decree 1860 of 1994). In my role as Municipal Youth Councilor (CMJ), I want to say that, for me, this forum for participation is a mechanism for youth representation that allows young people to raise their voices, propose ideas, monitor projects by and for young people, manage and promote public and private initiatives, and serve as a bridge between the municipal administration and local youth on all issues concerning this population.

I am aware that youth participation faces diverse realities and complex challenges that, in many cases, make it difficult for other young people, like me, to become actively involved in mechanisms of political participation. One example was what happened in 2021, when there was a low participation rate, and I believe the reason is the lack of incentives for organization and collective action, as well as young people’s lack of familiarity with these mechanisms, which prevents us from fully taking advantage of opportunities for political advocacy.

I believe that everything is built one step at a time; that is why, despite these challenges, I believe that with every step I take, I leave a mark along the way that will help improve this situation, by collaborating with educational institutions, social organizations, and local government to foster meaningful dialogue and action, recognizing ourselves as a fundamental democratic force. I feel that participation is not merely an electoral or symbolic act: it is an opportunity for those of us who view youth not only as a stage of life, but as the moment when the seeds are planted that will sprout the changes needed to transform realities. Furthermore, it is an opportunity for us to play an active role in shaping public policy, exercising social oversight, and designing a more equitable and democratic society.

It is true that this political landscape demands my ongoing commitment—not only to the administration but also to all the young people who are part of democracy. This presents a profound challenge for me when it comes to creating spaces for youth empowerment and leadership, given the wide range of issues affecting young people. But I also recognize that this participation has the potential to strengthen representation and address the specific needs of our population, provided it is carried out in accordance with principles and values that foster social transformation and democracy. For within us, the youth, flow the unyielding currents of change—a loud cry that knows no boundaries of silence, a vigor that not only imagines different futures but seeks to build them with impetuous hands and passionate hearts.