23rd April 2025
This webinar will explore key learnings from the HLA’s Young Humanitarians Internship Programme in Perú
📅 23 April 2025 | ⏲ 10:00 to 11:30am (GTM-5, Panama) 15.00 – 16:30 (UK time) | In Spanish (with English Translation)
In recent years, the need for localised humanitarian action has become more pressing. The Humanitarian Leadership Academy has directed efforts to empower local organisations and the communities they serve.
The Young Humanitarian Internship Program (YHIP) pilot ran in Perú from October through December 2024 and has emerged as a groundbreaking initiative, empowering young people to drive innovative, locally led solutions to humanitarian challenges. This webinar is an opportunity to explore key learnings from the YHIP pilot experience in LAC, showcasing how youth leadership can strengthen humanitarian response efforts and dynamize the sector.
Join the interesting conversation for humanitarian professionals from the LAC region and beyond; representatives from networks and organisations working with youth and/or focused on localisation; young professionals who are starting or wishing to start their career in the humanitarian sector as well as potential partners and collaborators looking to scale this initiative.
We look forward to the conversation with:
Mercedes García, HLA LAC Regional Center Lead
Mercedes is a civil and environmental engineer with a postgraduate degree in local development and a Fulbright scholar with more than 20 years of experience in humanitarian and development fields, having previously worked with Plan International, Oxfam, and the government of El Salvador. Mercedes has led numerous humanitarian responses in Central America, managed disaster reduction, resilience, humanitarian action, and capacity-building programs, and currently serves as the regional leader of the Humanitarian Leadership Academy at Save the Children.
Gesele Diaz, Youth Intern at Acción por los Niños Peru
Gesele holds a degree in social work with a special interest in promoting sustainable development and addressing underlying causes of vulnerability in communities. Gesele interned at Action for Children, supporting the team in program operations, promotion, and advocacy. She is a graduate of the National University of San Marcos.
Mitchel Castro, Social Programs Manager DAS Peru
Mitchel is a social communicator and graduate of a Masters in Social Management. He has more than 20 years of work experience in the public and private sectors in the fields of human development and humanitarian aid, with a special emphasis on the Amazon and Indigenous Peoples. He is an expert in territorial planning, capacity building, and strategic communication. He has spoken at various national and international events. In recognition of his career, he holds honorary positions as Technical Advisor to the Ministerial Working Group on Life Plans and has been designated as an Honorary Associate with the Keller Science Action Center at the Field Museum of Chicago. He currently serves as Social Manager for Desarrollo Ambiental y Social Perú (DAS Perú).
Ana Paola Padilla, Consultant
Ana is a Honduran civil engineer with three years of experience in disaster risk management. She holds a master’s degree in Natural Risk Planning and Management from the University of Alicante and currently coordinates the Youth Network for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central America. Her work focuses on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Honduras.