In the Peruvian Amazon, a new generation of indigenous communicators is beginning to transform the way their territories, and stories are narrated. With technological tools and social networks, young people from the Ampiyacu basin (a six-hour boat ride from the city of Iquitos), are learning to become spokespersons and ambassadors of their own peoples.
This initiative is driven by the Federation of Native Communities of the Ampiyacu (FECONA), which has been promoting training spaces in communication and digital content generation so that indigenous youth can make shed light on the cultural and biological wealth of the Amazon, as well as its threats.
"The world is changing with technology, and as a Federation, we have understood that our youth cannot be left behind. There is so much to show the world—our identity, our culture, and our territories," says Royer Guevara, president of FECONA.
The initiative seeks to bring technology closer to Amazonian communities, not only as a communication tool but also as an opportunity to strengthen cultural self-esteem and pride in their territory. In a country where a large part of the population is unaware of the Amazonian reality, these processes seek to build bridges and bring together voices that historically have seldom been heard.
"Our work has been oriented toward working with the adult population, since the wise elders of the communities hold a deep ancestral knowledge of the territory. However, this FECONA initiative, creating spaces led by youth and bringing them closer through technology and its tools to be protagonists of their communities' development, has seemed highly interesting to us," comments Yadira Díaz, manager of the Loreto program at Conservation International.
One of the facilitators of the process was Gimena Cariajano, a communicator and content creator from Loreto, who shared practical tools for audiovisual production and the strategic use of social networks. Her participation was marked by a personal and particpative methodology, adapted to the context of the participants.
"Leading this workshop on generating valuable content is a desire and a dream I've had for a long time. I wanted to share everything I have learned because there is a lot of talent in the Amazon, but it needs more ambassadors and creators of valuable content abput culture, human rights, and environmental crimes. It would be beautiful if each basin had its own influencer, their representative, their spokesperson. It is not just about making videos, but about generating a significant impact, becoming a source of communication that can move masses," Gimena tells us.
During the sessions, the 10 participants developed content about their daily lives, their relationship with the forest, and the cultural practices of their communities. Beyond technical learning, the process helped build confidence and motivate the young people to become active narrators of their own reality.
With initiatives like this, FECONA reaffirms its innovative vision of integrating technology, identity, and conservation, committing to a form of communication built from within the Amazonian communities themselves. A voice that is born from the territory and that today finds new platforms to be heard.
Durante las jornadas, los 10 participantes desarrollaron contenidos sobre su vida cotidiana, su relación con el bosque y las prácticas culturales de sus comunidades. Más allá del aprendizaje técnico, el proceso permitió fortalecer la confianza y motivar a los jóvenes a convertirse en narradores activos de su propia realidad.
Con iniciativas como esta, FECONA reafirma su visión innovadora de integrar tecnología, identidad y conservación, apostando por una comunicación construida desde las propias comunidades amazónicas. Una voz que nace desde el territorio y que hoy encuentra nuevas plataformas para ser escuchada.