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The nonprofit marks the intergenerational “baton passing” of the island’s social, economic, political and environmental transformation Puerto Rican Thoughts in Action (MPA) provides Puerto Rican youth with the opportunity to develop their own strategies for change, creating Youth Agenda 2024proposed today, Wednesday.
As part of its educational activities #EsMiTurnoFacing a general election, the organization is encouraging young people to take the lead in developing public policy proposals that will affect them and the future of the Islands.
“Too often, young people are seen as having their voices be an add-on rather than an intrinsic part of the electoral process, the public policy process and the overall engagement process of the country,” he said. Natalie Caraballothe initiative Easy Vote Puerto Rico.
The event is a collaborative effort between MPA and various organizations Sowing Meaning, Sierra Club of Puerto Rico, Vote Easy Puerto Rico yes Close and flexible with Lawyers, Inc. (anger).
“The more rice and beans we can get, the more accessible the policy is, the more we have at the table and the more young people are involved at the table. During the election process, they always see us as part of the campaign and not at the table where decisions are made,” said the young educator from Guayama. Danny Samuel Soto Gonzalez.
The 2024 Youth Agenda is divided into five themes that young people consider to be of primary importance: climate action, quality of life, work environments, electoral processes and health systems. University of Puerto Rico (Universal Periodic Review).
Twenty-five participants from different regions of Puerto Rico, ranging in age from 17 to 35, contributed to the preparation of the 41-page agenda by expressing their concerns and proposing solutions.
Below, we’ve organized the problems young people identified and the solutions they suggested into five themes:
Climate Action
in front of Climate ActionThese highlight the urgent need to transition to renewable energy, protect ecosystems and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Young people also stressed the importance of education and raising public awareness about climate change, while implementing strong accountability methods for industries and companies that impact the environment.
“What’s really special to me is that not only is this topic still a common issue, and a lot of times we say ‘let’s recycle’ — which is necessary, but not enough — but also, what surprised me is how deep the conversation is and most importantly, what tools of justice do young people want,” he said Hernalis Vazquez Torresan organizer with the Sierra Club’s Environmental and Social Justice Committee in Puerto Rico.
Quality of Life
About the Topic Quality of LifeThe agenda highlighted issues such as limited access to comprehensive health services, difficulty in obtaining housing due to high costs, and worrying statistics on gender-based violence and femicide.
Therefore, participants proposed a just transition to universal health plans, rehabilitating abandoned spaces and transforming them into health centers and housing for vulnerable groups.
Likewise, they raised the need to reduce the impact of short-term rentals on community displacement.
Participants in turn urged the development of public policies to evaluate and improve police services and to train authorities on community issues, civil rights, gender and racial perspectives.
Work Scene
about Work SceneYoung people expressed frustration about the disconnect between living costs and wages, and also highlighted the “stark disparity between their academic preparation and what they are paid.”
The agenda advocates for a minimum wage based on Puerto Rico’s cost of living to improve access to services practice Providing quality (internships) and reserved positions in the government to students from the UPR system.
Furthermore, it stressed the need to ensure that infants were cared for, while pointing out the disparity in the number of days for maternity and paternity leave, which made co-parenting difficult.
Election Process
Under the topic Election Processrecommended that an inquiry into deceased and active persons on the electoral register be commissioned to identify procedural flaws in the system.
The group also called for an amendment to Puerto Rico’s constitution to require elected executive branch leaders to receive at least 50% plus one vote in order to govern.
“One of the biggest concerns of young people is the lack of knowledge on how to exercise their right to vote, besides the fact that the rulers came to power with less than 50% of the votes,” said the MPA project director. Veronica Noriega Rodriguez.
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One of the key points pointed out by the young people Unsaturated polyester resin systemis a reduction in the budget allocated to the agency Financial Oversight Committee.
In turn, they report that in 2018, the cost of an undergraduate credit increased from $57 to $115, and in the 2024-2025 academic year, the cost will be $157, with continued increases expected in the coming years.
The document therefore establishes the importance of declaring the UPR an essential service, in order to ensure “adequate, regular and sustainable” funding allocations, as well as increasing the representation of the university community on the Board of Governors.
The #EsMiTurno educational campaign aims to encourage and promote youth participation in the electoral process and public policy decision-making.
“The main purpose of this campaign and of Puerto Rican Thought in Action is to create structures for young people to participate and for young people to express their stance on the challenges we face every day,” said MPA’s executive director. Carolina Mejias Rivera.
The group invites support and Agree Youth Agenda 2024, to increase its reach by sharing it on social networks and provide a discussion space to delve deeper into issues affecting young people.
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