Don Bosco Youth at GeoPACHA 2025 in Argentina

On September 15, young people from the Don Bosco Oratory Student Residence in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, took part in the II GeoPACHA Conference, held at the city's Technology Hub. The event brought together more than 24 educational institutions from the province and 60 projects presented by students, who reflected on the importance of caring for the Earth and the commitment of young people to current socio-environmental challenges.

The young people from the residence presented two projects entitled “Sprouts of Change: Rural Adolescence in Action” and “Ancestral Wisdom for an Innovative Future,” sharing their training related to caring for our “Common Home,” agroecology, and the ecological awareness present in rural identity, topics that are directly linked to their experience in the agroecological garden and the support they receive at the Oratory, within the framework of the “Young Farmers” project. 

During the day, workshops, exhibitions, and a space for exchange with teachers, technicians, and specialists in environmental sciences and geography were held, further enriching the participants' experience. Before the end of the day, the young people were specially invited to participate in the workshop “Santiago is ancestral and the world is our common home” organized by the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), where they were able to deepen their knowledge of agroecological and sustainable practices, creating a space for debate and motivation for other students.

Their participation and presentation were recognized with mentions and distinctions awarded by INTA, the Undersecretary of the Environment of Santiago del Estero, and the conference organizers, a gesture that valued the residents' efforts and commitment.

Participation in Expo GeoPACHA reaffirms the Don Bosco Oratory's commitment to comprehensive environmental education for adolescents and young people, enhancing their talents and encouraging them to be agents of change in society. It also promotes youth leadership in these spaces for exchange, training, and debate, showing that young people are not only recipients of educational proposals but also actors committed to building a more just and sustainable future.