Young Guardians: Protecting Land and Culture in Colombia

In the heart of Colombia's conflict-torn southwest, a unique school is shaping the future of Indigenous Nasa youth. The "semillero, " or seedbed, is more than just a weekend program. It's a place where children learn to protect their ancestral land and culture. The kids start their day with a simple ritual. They are gently splashed with water using a leafy branch. This isn't just a fun activity. It's a symbolic act of protection, a way to "open the path" for their journey ahead. With wooden signs in hand, they set off to make a difference. The signs carry powerful messages. "We were born to protect the environment" and "Peace, please" are just a couple of examples. The children nail these signs to trees along a dirt road. This road is still used by armed groups for drug trafficking. The land they're protecting is no small feat. It's a vast area reclaimed from industrial sugarcane plantations. The children also collect trash, showing their commitment to keeping their land clean. But this isn't just about the environment. It's about resistance and cultural pride. The children are learning to protect their land from those who would harm it. They're also learning to preserve their Indigenous heritage. Just beyond the reclaimed land, signs of conflict are still visible. Spray-painted warnings and roadside banners declare support for armed groups. But the children of the semillero are determined to make a difference. The semillero is led by Daniela Secue, a 26-year-old coordinator. She believes in the power of education to keep young people away from armed groups. "We want them to learn our history and know they have a role in defending our territory, " she says. The children's work is part of a larger community effort. In 2019, Nasa families reclaimed nearly 350 hectares of land. They transformed degraded fields into plots for growing food and regenerating forests. But the struggle is far from over. The community has faced forced evictions, military occupation, and threats. Despite these challenges, they continue to resist. The semillero's work is about more than just healing the land. It's about reclaiming identity and offering a different path for the youth. A path of responsibility, belonging, and connection to their ancestors. For families like Secue's and Camayo's, hope rests on the next generation. "We recover land so our children can eat from it and live on it, " says Camayo. "Even when we are gone, they will know what they belong to. "