Politics and governance should bring collective well-being to the people, and the people should be able to see themselves as agents of change in their communities. Instituto 25A works to make political participation go beyond formal mechanisms, empowering communities and making it a part of everyday life.
April 25, 2015 was a decisive political moment in Guatemala. After being fed up with the revelation of a massive customs corruption case, thousands of people peacefully mobilized in the historic center of Guatemala City and demanded that the government resign. Traditionally, the Guatemalan capital has been less active in mobilizing for political change in the country, but this time was different. Protests demanding #RenunciaYa (‘Resign Now’) continued for five months, with the participation of millions of people. By September, the president, vice president and other officials resigned and were arrested.
Instituto 25A, founded in 2018 by young participants of the protests, took its name and inspiration from that day. Its objective was to maintain the political consciousness of Guatemalan citizens, especially young people, based on the memory of #RenunciaYa. The group began with small training workshops on political advocacy and networking with civil society organizations in the capital. They framed their work around critical thinking about the realities and expectations of Guatemalan citizens.
The work of Instituto 25A has expanded within Guatemala City and to other parts of the country, and includes research to disseminate its work of community engagement, rescue of historical memory and creation of spaces for youth to learn and practice advocacy work. It also fosters analysis and counterweight to the dominant narratives that sustain the status quo and networks and alliances to strengthen social movements.
In its six years of existence, and with the support of the CAMY Fund, Instituto 25A has implemented projects such as Terremotos (Earthquakes) and Cibaque. With Terremotos, the group invites young people to rethink traditional advocacy practices and promote small-scale actions for change, and they produced an advocacy guide for social organizations and activists. With Cibaque, named after a natural tree fiber used to tie tamales, they together a collective of young activists and youth-led organizations to nurture emerging political thinking and encourage joint action.
Above all, Instituto 25A sees its work as contributing to greater political reflection among the communities of Guatemala City and the country. Youth question and develop new ways to mobilize and advocate for change, supported by the resources produced by the organization. Looking to the future, the group is confident that continuing to promote artistic, cultural and innovative forms of political expression imagined by young people will lead to the societies they envision.
