Youth Against Climate Illiteracy
When a group of young Bolivians first heard about climate illiteracy, they understood that the great challenge was not only to face the impacts of climate change but also to learn to read it, understand it, and translate it into collective action. From that conviction, with their own effort and almost no resources, they launched the first courses on climate illiteracy and the Climate Observers initiative — seeds that would later inspire many other young people across the country.
October 28, 2025
The first steps of the Bolivian Platform for Action Against Climate Change (PBACC) were not born of institutional alliances, but of the strength and creativity of these young people, who decided to fight with whatever they had at hand. Later, with the support of the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) project of WWF-Bolivia and the Bolivian Platform Against Climate Change (PBFCC), they consolidated their efforts and brought to life initiatives that once seemed unreachable.
That path of growth opened new doors. The methodology and experience of PBACC were replicated alongside partner organisations — Enseña por Bolivia, which reached rural communities, and Save the Children, which enabled the extension of the courses to virtual spaces. Thanks to these collaborations, the fight against climate illiteracy transcended local borders and reached more young people in different contexts.
The visibility of PBACC also extended to public and cultural spaces such as TEDx Toborochi, where their message resonated with new audiences. There, they demonstrated that the climate crisis is not just a technical issue, but a cause capable of inspiring society as a whole.
Today, many of these young people have become leaders in their own fields. Sonia Espinoza, from the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), and Rolando Ágreda, from MAPEKO, are promoting actions and proposals within their institutions, taking the PBACC experience to new heights. At the same time, voices like Miguel Jerez, Fernanda Zeballos, Mónica Curtiñez, and Camila Bohórquez continue to contribute individually with projects, ideas, and active participation in national and international spaces.
The story of PBACC demonstrates that when youth take the initiative — even from a place of scarcity — they can ignite processes that grow and multiply. With the support of the VCA project, their voices were amplified, their struggles strengthened, and their influence expanded. Today, they are not only confronting climate illiteracy: they are eradicating it with knowledge, creativity, and intergenerational commitment.
