At 14 years old, Francisco Vera is different from other teens his age. Born in Colombia, he spends his time advocating for the environment.
In 2019, the Amazon caught fire. Francisco was 9 years old and organized an initiative among his school friends to campaign for the protection of nature. They collected signatures and that's how “Guardians for Life” was born, an initiative that calls for educating children to care for the environment. In Colombia, it promotes the abolition of cosmetic products made with animals.
FRANCISCO VERA
Founder, Guardians for Life
Environmental, climate and citizenship education is the true life education. It should not be a policy that we have to promote from civil society, but a state policy. The State should rethink education and adapt it to the current context. Climate change should be taught and children should be given the necessary tools.
Single-use plastic should also be banned. Approving a regional agreement is strategic for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Francisco traveled to Rome to ask Pope Francis to write about the role children have in caring for the environment. During a General Audience, he had the opportunity to speak directly with the Pope.
FRANCISCO VERA
Founder, Guardians for Life
It was absolutely thrilling; it's just hard to really describe.
It was a dream for me to meet with Pope Francis. I basically told him about my passion for the care of nature, for the care of the common home expressed in the encyclical Laudato si.
Francisco won the Young Activist Summit Award in 2023 at the United Nations, an event that invites young people to raise awareness about their sustainability projects.
PA
TR: KG
