From June 28 to 29, 2025, Lima became the meeting point for a group of emerging voices from the Peruvian Amazon. Twelve young leaders from across Peru came together for the Amazonian Youth Network (Red AMA) Capacity-Building Workshop, a two-day training designed to strengthen their leadership, negotiation, and social entrepreneurship skills— this time with a practical lens on innovation and artificial intelligence. 

The workshop was organized by the Wyss Academy for Nature’s  South America Hub in collaboration with Red AMAr and facilitated by Javier García Blásquez López with on-the-ground coordination and facilitation support by Ursula Harman, Project Co-Lead in Peru. The initiative forms part of the Wyss Academy’s broader Social Innovation project, led by Julia Cunha. 

Over two high-engagement days, participants immersed themselves in an experiential program built around three thematic blocks: Purpose and Amazonian Leadership, Negotiation and Collaboration, and Social Entrepreneurship with AI Tools. 

Through interactive exercises, group reflections, and creative methodologies, the young leaders explored how to translate local challenges into actionable ideas for their respective regions. Guided dialogues on conflict resolution built common ground, while hands-on labs with AI prompts showed how digital tools can support community-led entrepreneurship. Each activity asked participants to connect innovation with identity, language, and community purpose— aligning priorities for action in Amazonian realities and inclusive governance. 

Maria Elena Pulla Huillca, a participant, shared her reflections on the capacity-building workshop: “A unique experience. The learning, the time shared, the emotions, and above all, the self-discovery of our mission, vocation, and purpose. A very special gathering to strengthen ourselves both personally and collectively!” 

The workshop combined play-based, peer collaboration, and emotional reflection, allowing participants to experience leadership not as a theory, but as a lived, shared practice. 

For many, it was also a first encounter with digital and AI tools designed for social entrepreneurship. This new exposure incited curiousity and creativity, showing the group how technology could work alongside communities to initiate and sustain locally led change in the Amazon. 

Ursula Harman reflected on the group’s engagement and motivation, emphasizing how the exercises helped participants transform ideas into tangible initiatives and strengthen collective leadership. 

The in-person sessions were just the beginning. Three follow-up virtual coaching sessions supported participants through the rest of 2025, focusing on assertive communication, negotiation strategies, and the application of AI and Design Thinking in their community projects—all leading up to the organization of the I Andean - Amazonian Youth Meeting for Conservation held in Cusco. This continuity ensures that the skills learned in Lima translate into tangible impact across the territories the youth represent. 

Participants were asked to provide feedback at the close of the workshop, reflecting on their overall experience and the value of the sessions. Responses highlighted the high quality of facilitation, the relevance of the content, and the sense of connection and motivation fostered throughout the two days. 

Many participants emphasized the participatory methodology, the safe and inclusive environment, and the creative integration of AI tools in a way that was grounded in local culture and purpose. Taken together, the reflections indicate that the workshop strengthened individual skills and reinforced collective leadership and collaboration among the young Amazonian leaders. 

This training is part of a long-term process of collaboration between the Wyss Academy and Amazonian youth leaders. It reaffirms a shared commitment to nurturing youth agency, intercultural dialogue, and territorial innovation as pillars of sustainable transformation. 

What began as a two-day encounter in Lima now continues as a living network of young leaders—connected, motivated, and ready to amplify their communities’ voices on the regional and international stage. 

Watch this video to get a more personal outlook on the participants motivation and vision.