LocationsPowering the Future of the Amazon: How Indigenous Youth are Driving Energy Autonomy
April 23, 2025
Aylluq Q’anchaynin Project outline being signed by the Community of Alto Mishagua during one of their monthly assemblies. Photo: Joice Mendez.
Access to energy is a fundamental human right and essential need. Yet, when we talk about a just transition, we forget that there are 1.18 billion people and communities who do not even have this resource and live in energy poverty.
In Peru, energy poverty remains a critical barrier to development and climate resilience, especially for Indigenous communities living in remote regions like the Amazon and the Andes. While the national electrification rate stands at around 96.2 percent, this figure drops in rural and remote areas. In fact, about 30 percent of rural Amazonian communities still lack access to electricity, and in many highland Andean areas, access remains intermittent or completely absent. This lack of reliable, clean energy affects everything from health services to education, food security, and connectivity. The situation is particularly acute for Peru's Indigenous Peoples who make up about 25 percent of the national population. Many of these communities live in isolated, off-grid areas where traditional energy infrastructure has yet to reach. Without access to modern energy, families often rely on diesel generators or wood-burning stoves, both of which are costly, polluting, and unsustainable. For these communities, energy poverty is not only a question of infrastructure, but one of equity, dignity, and opportunity.
Our story begins in the midst of the 2020 pandemic, driven by six young students from the Federal University for Latin American Integration (UNILA): Roxana Mamani, Joice Mendez, Icoana Martins, Yanderi Pausayu, Vitor Rissatti, and César Granada—a multidisciplinary, culturally diverse, and international team. Our project, Aylluq Q’anchaynin, which means 'the energy of the community' in Quechua, is the heart of this story.
Aylluq Q'anchaynin Team Members. Photo: Observatório Latino Americano da Geopolítica Energética.
Alto Mishagua is a multicultural and multilingual community, home to Indigenous representatives of Quechua, Yine, Matsiguenga, Ashaninka, Yine Yame and Nahua peoples. Our livelihood is based on subsistence agriculture, hunting and fishing. The year 2023 was one of the hottest and driest on record for our community, the region and the country, leading to delayed rains and health issues for families. The year began with heavy rains that flooded our communities – an event that hadn’t occurred in years and that is a direct result of the global climate crisis.
The terms ‘climate change’, ‘adaptation’, ‘mitigation’, and other words are very technical – at least they were for me. While I now understand these concepts, we Indigenous Peoples possess a wealth of ancestral knowledge that goes beyond these terms. What we know for certain is that our actions and those of 'developed' countries are driving these changes, accelerating and altering natural processes and cycles, ultimately disrupting the natural balance. This is an unprecedented shift. For instance, we’ve seen impacts on the lunar calendar, changes in the seasons, and, for those of us who have worked the land for generations, these shifts are directly affecting our subsistence farming.
Location of the project, Alto Mishagua, Peru.
As young people, we are experiencing the effects of climate change firsthand, while also actively creating and innovating to confront the challenges it brings. For us, fighting climate change means more than just resisting it—it means finding solutions, exploring alternatives, and transforming our way of life. It also means learning to adapt to increasingly frequent heatwaves, forest fires, and the growing scarcity of natural resources.
One of the ways we, as youth, are contributing to reducing the effects of climate change is by advancing the energy transition in its various forms. In response to our specific challenges and local context, we began formulating and co-creating the project Aylluq Q’anchaynin, which is based on photovoltaic energy—a resource available to us and capable of meeting our community’s needs. Through this project, we are generating access to solar energy and satellite internet for the families of Alto Mishagua Rural Settlement, a remote and borderland area with no access to roads, healthcare, clean water, or electricity.
The idea behind the project took root during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I had to continue my university studies from my community, where there was no access to electricity or the internet. I had just returned from a student exchange at UNAM in Mexico and was determined to keep studying. With the support of my mentor and friend Joice Mendez, we began searching for a solution, initially installing a small solar panel and satellite system for personal use. Then, together with five other students, we started thinking bigger: what if we expanded the system to serve the entire community? We have a background in climate activism; we already had the tools and leadership experience. In 2021, we began formally planning the project at COP26, where we also sought initial support.
Initial system installed during the pandemic of Covid-19. Photo: Roxana Borda Mamani.
With a six-member team and the project drafted on paper, our biggest challenge quickly became clear: how do we finance it? That was our main limitation. There were difficult moments along the way, but we persevered and, eventually, were selected as one of Student Energy’s Guided Projects. We were proud to be the first project from Latin America and the Caribbean to be chosen and this major milestone allowed us to learn the technical aspects of photovoltaic system design and resource mobilization.
Still, the implementation of the project came with its own challenges. Although the community was very supportive, the rhythm of engagement was shaped by their participatory process. Community meetings were held only once a month, which slowed down certain steps, like collecting signatures or finalizing agreements. Sometimes, natural factors like heavy rains would prevent me from even reaching the community. But these were moments we worked through together.
As we progressed, we also began identifying youth-specific grants that were better aligned with our budget needs, which gave us the confidence to move forward. We continued working hand-in-hand with the community, holding meetings, building agreements, and securing collective commitments. When a solution is community-driven and supported by a strong, interdisciplinary team, it truly makes a difference and it’s what continues to inspire us to keep going.
Aylluq Q’anchaynin Project outline being signed by the Community of Alto Mishagua during one of their monthly assemblies. Photo: Joice Mendez
The first phase of the project consisted in installing the community’s own satellite internet connection, supported by a small solar-powered system for charging essential devices like phones and flashlights. Even with limited energy infrastructure, having a reliable space to stay connected and keep devices charged has already transformed daily life. Children are now able to explore educational content beyond textbooks, stay informed, and connect with the world in ways that were not possible before. For families, the ability to communicate with relatives, access basic services, or simply know the time of day brings a renewed sense of dignity and autonomy. This foundational step has laid the groundwork for broader impacts: promoting energy autonomy and self-sufficiency, while significantly improving the quality of education for children in rural schools. We strongly believe that access to digital learning materials is a key step, especially because we recognize that not all children learn in the same way.
The second phase of the project involved installing a complete solar energy system for 40 households in the community. Completing this phase this year would be a major milestone, as it will ensure reliable access to electricity for 40 families and strengthen the community’s autonomy through self-sufficient energy generation. But the impact goes far beyond energy. With electricity and improved communication, the community will be better equipped to respond to emergencies, access public services, and stay connected with the rest of the world. New social programs can emerge, the quality of education is expected to improve, and local economic initiatives will have the support they need to grow. Families will no longer need to travel by boat (peque-peque) for hours to reach the nearest city with internet or electricity access—a round trip that currently takes 5 to 8 hours and consumes between 3 to 10 gallons of fuel.
Roxana standing next to the first installation of the communal internet. Photo: Joice Mendez
Aylluq Q’anchaynin offers an alternative to conventional energy sources that deplete natural resources, destroy forests, and disrupt ecosystems, ultimately threatening biodiversity. Solar energy, on the other hand, is significantly less aggressive because it doesn’t require extracting or burning fuel, altering river flows, or clearing large areas of land. It harnesses an abundant and renewable resource—the sun—without polluting the environment or displacing communities. Unlike traditional systems, which are prone to frequent outages caused by rain, fallen trees, and long repair times, our project ensures more stable access to energy and communication. During the installation, the community received basic training on how to care for and maintain their solar panels, and they are now responsible for upkeep—such as keeping the panels clean, monitoring system performance, and reaching out for support whenever needed.
While the introduction of solar energy has been impactful for our community, it's important to recognize the broader complexities of the global energy transition. The technologies that enable renewable energy—like solar panels and batteries—rely heavily on critical minerals. According to IRENA, 54% of the reserves for these minerals are found on Indigenous lands, raising ethical concerns around extraction, consent, and environmental justice. As Indigenous youth working on clean energy in our communities, we find ourselves at the intersection of innovation and systemic inequity. Our efforts are rooted in care for the land and our people, but we also recognize the need for ethical frameworks in how energy technologies are produced and deployed globally. The movement for a just energy transition must therefore not only support community-led solutions, but also ensure that these solutions do not come at the cost of other Indigenous lands and peoples elsewhere.
Engagement of the community during the first installation. Photo: Roxana Borda Mamani.
Thanks to the leadership and dedication of young people, we’ve been able to connect and collaborate with organizations such as the Latin American Observatory of Energy Geopolitics, Student Energy, Cansbridge Fellowship, Light Up the World, UNDP, The Movements Trust, Re-Earth, and the Youth Climate Justice Fund. Together, we’re turning this project into a reality, already impacting the lives of more than 40 families. Indeed, access to electricity addresses many interconnected challenges as it can strengthen the local economy and improve access to healthcare, education, and information.
Through this project, we are helping reduce energy poverty while contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals: 1, 4, 7, 8, 13, and 17. We are also aligning with national and international agendas, effectively 'glocalizing' the energy transition by turning global goals into local action. We are addressing one of the key measures outlined in Peru’s NDC update under the Paris Agreement: promoting renewable energy access in vulnerable territories as a strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and cut national greenhouse gas emissions. The project avoids the need for diesel-based generators and eliminates the logistical and environmental burdens tied to transporting fuel across the rainforest. In doing so, it helps operationalize Peru’s climate goals at the local level and serves as a replicable example of how local action can strengthen mitigation and adaptation pathways on a broader level.
Being part of Youth4Climate has been an opportunity for exchange, learning, and great ideas alongside other youth who are working to make our common home more sustainable. It is a space where there are great projects, ideas, stories, and challenges. For our team, it marked a key professional milestone, strengthening our capacities, growing our leadership, and bringing our project closer to its full potential. It felt like a light at the end of a path we’ve been walking, persisting, and getting closer to the goal, hoping to scale our knowledge to support other young people.
Let's guarantee access to energy and communication, a right that promotes autonomy and empowers the youth, who are forging change, to continue inspiring with innovative ideas. Remember that every ACTION counts; let's make the just energy transition a reality in our communities!
First School built in the community linked with the internet installation. Photo: Joice Mendez.
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Youth4Climate (Y4C) is a global initiative, launched in May 2022, co-led by the Government of Italy's Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative has its Secretariat at the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition, and is supported through the 8x1000 funds of the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai.
Y4C brings together existing and new online and offline resources, tools, capacities, partnerships, networks and movements led by and designed for youth, with a strong focus on the implementation of solutions, for a more sustained impact on climate on the ground. It aims to foster an inclusive, safe and enabling environment for youth to lead and partner with other stakeholders on climate action.
For more information about the initiative, visit the Youth4Climate platform.
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