In an effort to raise awareness and strengthen the capacities of young people and social actors on the rights, protection and challenges faced by migrants, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) held the first School of Leadership, Innovation and Human Rights from 23 to 25 August 2024. This event aimed to promote a comprehensive understanding of youth and migration in the region.

Since 2019, the Western Hemisphere Program, which is implemented by IOM with the support of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the US Department of State, has used the Communication for Development (C4D) methodology to create strategies to encourage informed decision-making on migration. These strategies propose a route to promote social change in a flexible and sustainable way, articulating actors and efforts in different dimensions. Therefore, the entire implementation of C4D is evidence-based, participatory, and seeks to contribute to social change.

Since 2021, IOM has been implementing the C4D methodology in Panama to promote informed decision-making on migration, in addition to the identification of risks associated with the search for employment opportunities. This year, for the first time, the Think Twice (Piénsalo 2 Veces in Spanish) social change strategy was launched in the provinces of Herrera, Los Santos and Coclé, with the aim of providing essential information on the processes of migratory and labour regularization, as well as empowering migrants and host communities to strengthen their capacities and promote their contributions to the sustainable development of the country.

"True change begins with the education and empowerment of leaders capable of facing the challenges of the present and the future; their commitment and enthusiasm are key to the success of this initiative. Together, we will drive meaningful change in our communities," said Giuseppe Loprete, Director of the Panama Administrative Centre and IOM Chief of Mission in Panama.

The training sessions were developed to encourage reflection on the stereotypes and realities faced by young migrants, to develop skills for the identification and assistance to young people in vulnerable situations during migration processes, and to promote the creation of information and awareness campaigns aimed at different groups of young migrants.

Daymari Quevedo, a young Venezuelan migrant and leader of the strategy, said that the School of Leadership, Innovation and Human Rights "is not only a place of learning, but also

a home where each of us finds the strength to face the challenges of starting over in a different country."

Joining this school has been a transformative experience, Daymari says. "I have met people who, like me, seek to make a difference and together we have learned that our migration story is not a barrier, but a bridge to new opportunities. Each session reminds us that we are not alone and that our future is in our hands," she concluded.

For more information, contact IOM Panama's communications team at iompanama@iom.int.