Original article: Con sede en Santiago: Presentan el primer Observatorio de Juventudes liderado por jóvenes en América Latina

Launch of the First Youth Observatory Led by Young People in Latin America Based in Santiago

Aiming to bridge the information gap regarding youth in Latin America and to enhance the active participation of new generations in decision-making, the Tremendas Foundation officially launched the Youth Observatory, a pioneering initiative led by young individuals focused on generating actionable evidence for sustainable development and public policies.

The Tremendas Foundation explained that the Observatory «originates as an evidence-based think tank, headquartered in Santiago with a regional scope, aiming to address a structural issue: the lack of systematic, disaggregated, and updated data about youth in Latin America.»

They added that «in a region where over 160 million people are young—more than 25% of the population—public decisions continue to be made without consistently incorporating their experiences, needs, and trajectories.»

This initiative proposes a paradigm shift: recognizing youth not just as subjects of study but also as knowledge producers capable of generating critical analyses, driving innovative solutions, and actively influencing the creation of policies and narratives that affect their present and future.

Julieta Martinez, founder of Tremendas, detailed that the Observatory «aims to generate, systematize, and translate data into actionable evidence that contributes to the design of public policies and legislative projects.»

In this context, she indicated that «its distinctive feature is that youth will no longer be merely objects of research but will become knowledge producers, actively participating in the design, collection, and analysis of data, as well as in the dissemination of results.»

“Today, more than ever, in a context of profound changes and geopolitical tensions, it is fundamental to protect democracy and promote initiatives that engage young people in the development of actionable public policies based on evidence with long-term impact,” added Julieta Martínez.

Seven Sustainable Development Goals

The project directly addresses seven of the Sustainable Development Goals, which are also part of the Tremendas Foundation’s focus. These include: Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work, Reduction of Inequalities, and Climate Action.

Moreover, the Observatory’s strategy is grounded in three pillars: the generation and systematization of relevant information about youth; strengthening youth capacities in research and analysis; and advocacy in public policies, programs, and public-private initiatives.

The launch event for this unprecedented initiative featured the participation of María José Torres, UN Resident Coordinator in Chile; Eva Flandes, Rector of Universidad SEK; Dinorah Singer, Senior Executive of CAF in Chile; Rocío del Pilar González, Chair of the Board of the Tremendas Foundation; and Marinés Arredondo, Director of the Tremendas Foundation.

During the event, a panel discussion entitled «Youth as Knowledge Producers» took place, featuring Verónica Undurraga, historian at Universidad Católica de Chile, Mariana Hidalgo, Programming Director at NTV, and Julieta Martínez, founder of Tremendas.

The Citizen