Guardianes de la Montaña: Designing Youth-Led Climate Governance in High-Andean Territories

General information

Project name:

Executor:

Asociación Preservando

Role in the organization:

Project Lead & System Designer

Project timeline:

April – October 2025

Beneficiaries:

25 Indigenous youth + 4,457 indirect beneficiaries

Additional data:

Financier: Embassy of New Zealand – Small Grants Fund
Estimated total cost: USD 11,500
Main allies: Local Government of San Mateo de Huanchor, Indigenous Communities, Local Schools, Youth Volunteers from Lima

Additional data:

Financier: Embassy of New Zealand – Small Grants Fund
Estimated total cost: USD 11,500
Main allies: Local Government of San Mateo de Huanchor, Indigenous Communities, Local Schools, Youth Volunteers from Lima

Executive summary

Guardianes de la Montaña is a youth-centered system design intervention that transforms environmental education into civic action and climate governance.

Implemented in high-Andean communities of San Mateo de Huanchor, the project equips Indigenous youth with leadership, climate literacy, and innovation skills and immediately connects learning to real community challenges.

Designed and led by Asociación Preservando, the system integrates Design Thinking and Lean Startup to reposition young people as co-designers of policy, environmental solutions, and local development pathways.

The initiative enabled youth to influence local decision-making, generate concrete policy proposals, and lead environmental action in one of Peru’s most climate-vulnerable mountain territories.

Context and challenge

Low

Youth participation in local environmental decision-making prior to the project.

High

Exposure of high-Andean ecosystems to climate-related risks.

0 %

Formal youth-led climate governance mechanisms at the local level.

Limited

Integration of Indigenous knowledge into local policy processes.

Design challenge

How might we design a learning system that transforms Indigenous youth into active climate leaders capable of shaping local environmental governance and sustainable livelihoods?

Beneficiaries

Indigenous secondary-school and early-university youth with strong territorial knowledge but limited pathways to influence governance and innovation processes.

Indigenous youth leaders: 25 youth (≥50% women)

Community members (indirect): 4,457 people

Design process

(Methodology: Design Thinking + Lean Startup)

Empathize

Community dialogues were conducted with Indigenous leaders, schools, and local authorities to understand environmental challenges and barriers to youth participation.

Define

Youth were reframed from passive students to active actors in climate governance and innovation.

Ideate

A modular learning system was co-created combining leadership, climate literacy, civic participation, and innovation.

Prototype

Pilot workshops and simulated municipal sessions were conducted to test engagement and feasibility.

Test

Youth presented early proposals to peers and local authorities and received structured feedback.

Iterate

The curriculum and facilitation approach were refined based on participation, retention, and gender balance metrics.

Implemented solution

Format:

4 in-person workshops + Digital network of women entrepreneurs

Key topics:

Female leadership and self-esteem
Finance for women entrepreneurs
Digital marketing
Management of local ventures

Highlighted innovations:

Creation of the first Women’s Network with Sustainable Enterprises in the province.
Replicable model based on Australian experiences (Women’s Business 2nd Chance).
Training adapted to the rural context and Andean worldview.