The Incomindios 2025 Youth Scholars
- anitaweilenmann3
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
Incomindios is pleased to announce the five outstanding scholarship recipients who will participate in the 24th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York. With the support of the Incomindios team, the UN Youth Scholarship offers young indigenous people the opportunity to gain initial experience in the institutions of the United Nations and to stand up for their rights and concerns.
Sara Fuentes
Sara, an Indigenous Kichwa-Otavalo from Ecuador, brings extensive experience in project management and international cooperation, with a strong focus on Indigenous rights, youth empowerment, women, and development.
At the national level, she has led initiatives to strengthen Indigenous women’s leadership, secured international funding for youth programs, and facilitated English scholarship opportunities. Internationally, she served as an Indigenous Fellow at the Secretariat of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), where she acted as a key liaison for Indigenous representatives, enhanced their participation, and contributed to global initiatives at the intersection of intellectual property, traditional knowledge, and Indigenous rights.
Elisa Montserrat Figueroa Cacho
Elisa, Garifuna from Honduras, is a dedicated political scientist, cultural manager, singer/songwriter, author, and actress. She is passionately committed to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of her community.
Through her extensive experience in cultural research, preservation, and revitalization, she helps keep the traditions, spirituality, and identity of the Garifuna alive for future generations. Her work bridges past and present, strengthens intercultural dialogue, and celebrates the richness of Garifuna storytelling, music, and history.
Wara Iris Ruiz Condori
Wara, a young Aymara from the Bolivian Andes, works as a project coordinator in the fields of climate change and biodiversity. She is deeply committed to empowering Indigenous young women and advocating for their land rights. In addition, she leads a movement for environmental journalism and sustainable food systems in Bolivia, promoting the right to free access to information.
Alejandra Quiguantar
Alejandra, a young Pastos woman from Colombia, holds a degree in biology and is passionately committed to climate justice and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge. She is a member of the Feminist Action Coalition for Climate Justice by UN Women, as well as Tejiendo Pensamiento, an organization dedicated to safeguarding traditional knowledge and promoting intergenerational justice for resilient communities.
Through her work, Alejandra strives to empower girls and their allies by providing access to resources, networks, and platforms that support their activism and amplify their voices within the climate justice movement.
Dayana Blanco
Incomindios is delighted to welcome back Dayana as a mentor for the UN Youth Scholarship Program. An Indigenous Aymara from Bolivia, Dayana is the driving force behind the Uru-Uru Team, a grassroots initiative dedicated to the restoration of Lake Uru-Uru in western-central Bolivia—drawing on traditional ecological knowledge.
This important project addresses the complex challenges posed by mining activities, plastic pollution, and climate change, which threaten both the ecological integrity of the lake and the well-being of surrounding Indigenous communities.
With a donation to the UN Youth Scholarship, you help us continue to familiarize Indigenous youth with the UN institutions and enable them to understand their mechanisms to advocate for their rights.
