Article by Sophia Robson, Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist for RET

When disasters strike, they often disproportionately impact Indigenous communities. But youth in Panama are working to change that dynamic by turning to traditional ecological knowledge and spreading its message online.

Larissa Rodríguez is one of those youth. A 21-year-old resident of the indigenous community of Soloy in Panama, she lives with her parents and two siblings. She’s currently in her third year of studying English at the University of Chiriquí and spends her free time attending seminars, workshops, and meetings on various subjects, as well as engaging in group sports activities to keep fit and socialize with friends.

She finds the situation of young people in her district to be highly challenging. The community has limited resources and lies in a remote area of the country, meaning that everyone – and especially young people – must be enormously self-sufficient.

Larissa’s participation in digital creation workshops about disaster and climate resilience and their indigenous cultural perspectives – run by RET with support from USAID-BHA – resonated deeply. She sees technology as a powerful tool for reaching the younger generation, and through these workshops, she gained skills in digital content creation, enabling her to promote the significance of cultural and environmental stewardship and disaster and climate resilience.

Larissa’s participation in digital creation workshops about disaster and climate resilience and their indigenous cultural perspectives – run by RET with support from USAID-BHA – resonated deeply. She sees technology as a powerful tool for reaching the younger generation.

Furthermore, Larissa’s involvement in broader Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) trainings has motivated her and her peers to value their cultural heritage and natural resources more deeply. Feeling empowered to defend their region’s well-being, they aspire to protect their community’s biodiversity and cultural legacy and aim to inspire more Ngäbe Buglé youth to take pride in their cultural heritage and share their indigenous wisdom with the world, fostering respect for Mother Earth to protect everyone.

However, challenges persist due to limited resources supporting this type of work, particularly in culturally respectful ways such as this project has achieved. Despite this, Larissa finds significance in the motivation and empowerment gained through participation in DRR initiatives. She emphasizes the importance of preserving their distinctive cultural identity and language, advocating for their values as volunteers who cherish their heritage.

Larissa’s greatest hope is for more projects and activities to be created in her area, so they can continue to foster active engagement within the community.

Their commitment extends beyond the project workshops, as the participants continue to share their knowledge with young people in neighboring communities, fostering ongoing initiatives in disaster risk reduction. Larissa and her peers are passionate about raising awareness and forming new community groups focused on leveraging cultural knowledge for effective risk management. Ultimately, Larissa highlights the importance of the voices of indigenous youth being heard in these projects, encouraging the broader community to embrace risk reduction practices and value nature’s role in safeguarding their collective well-being.

Larissa’s greatest hope is for more projects and activities to be created in her area, so they can continue to foster active engagement within the community. She says her primary motivation lies in empowering herself and others to care for their surroundings, community, and region. While she embraces technology, she also emphasizes the importance of safeguarding her community’s culture and environment which is ever more urgent in a rapidly changing world.

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