Research Interests

In my early work as a journalist for Semana Sostenible Magazine, I became deeply concerned about the lack of supportive environments for young people, particularly young girls, in my country. The transition from adolescence to adulthood is often full of challenges, especially in regions where both licit and illicit economies coexist. This gap became the focus of my PhD research, which aims to highlight the lived realities of youth, framing them not merely as labor sources but as complex individuals with aspirations and agency.

As part of my field research, I conducted a Photovoice project with 36 young men and women over eight months, exploring rural youth’s aspirations and life trajectories. This project offered a unique perspective on their experiences and dreams. Click here to learn more about it.

My interdisciplinary research spans key themes like climate change, conservation, and the role of youth in shaping sustainable futures. I focus on fostering peaceful, thriving rural communities where young people can contribute to long-term environmental stewardship. Gender studies, particularly how gender intersects with power, agency, and opportunity, are central to my work.

Using systems thinking, I examine how social, economic, and environmental factors shape rural youth’s lives, drawing on intersectionality to understand the layered challenges faced by marginalized youth. My goal is to generate new insights on how to support young people, especially in rural and transitional environments, to reach their full potential.