Young voices leading the way in Arequipa

“What hit me most was the energy in the room. It was real, bold, and full of purpose. We connected with young people from across Peru, shared our challenges, and built solutions together. That’s when we knew nothing could stop us.” Isabel Cornejo, member of the Impulsando Voluntades working group and representative of the Red Universitaria Medioambiental del Perú

Something powerful happens when young people come together. They bring energy, ideas, lived experience and a drive to make change happen. Yest, despite this, they   often lack  the space to connect across communities, regions and sectors, and be heard on their own terms.

Last year in November, Arequipa became a gathering place for something bigger than any one organisation or initiative. Youth leaders travelled from across the country to shape the conversation. Co-hosted by Ikigai Laboratorio Social and the Anglo American Foundation, “Impulsando Voluntades” brought together 166 youth leaders and 50 youth-led volunteer organisations. Alongside civil society, academia and the private sector, they explored how youth-led volunteerism could strengthen civic life and create lasting change in their communities.

Over two days, young people led sessions, learnt from one each other and grounded conversations in their lived realities. The space was open, energised and full of possibility.

By the end of the convening, 236 new partnerships had taken root, tangible collaborations already evolving into projects.

As Alexandra Infante Perales, CEO of Ikigai reflects, “Through Impulsando Voluntades, we are not only inspiring young people to take active roles in their communities, but also generating key insights to shape more impactful and sustainable volunteer initiatives.”

The ripple effect continues. A working group of eight young leaders from Arequipa has now formed, dedicated to co-designing future initiatives that keep youth leadership and volunteerism at the centre of civic engagement. With ongoing support from Ikigai, these changemakers are gaining the tools, strategy, and mentorship needed to turn ideas into action.

From Tacna to Cusco, Lima to Arequipa, young changemakers have returned home not just inspired but equipped. They are turning ideas into action and forging new paths forward together.

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