Strengthening Climate Change and Human Rights Education in the Amazon region

From February 24 to 27, 2026, Dominicans for Justice and Peace organized a workshop in collaboration with the Justice and Peace OP office of Venezuela and CIDALC in Cúcuta, Colombia, with the participation of our Venezuelan partners. This gathering formed part of our new initiative on Climate Change and Human Rights Education for Youth in the Amazon Region, including Venezuela, aimed at reinforcing educational and advocacy efforts in the region.

The workshop brought together Dominican educators and school leaders from Dominican schools in Venezuela, along with representatives from key partner organizations committed to justice, peace, and the care of creation. Our delegation, led by Fr. Aniedi Okure, joined a remarkable group of 15 participants representing a diverse network of institutions: Dominican schools in Venezuela, REPAM Venezuela (Pan-Amazon Ecclesial Network), AVEC (Association of Catholic Schools of Venezuela in the Amazon region), Fe y Alegría, members of the Justice and Peace OP team from Venezuela, as well as CIDALC (Conferencia Interprovincial de Los Dominicos de América Latina y El Caribe), and the University of Santo Tomas in Bucaramanga. 

Over three days, participants engaged in dynamic dialogue on our new initiative “Climate Change and Human Rights Education for Youth in the Amazon.” This initiative promotes coordination among Dominicans and partner organizations in Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela, with the shared goal of strengthening education and advocacy in defense of human dignity and the environment.

Discussions highlighted the profound impact of climate change on the lives and rights of people in the Amazon—particularly Indigenous communities. The Amazon region is home to vulnerable populations whose livelihoods and human rights are increasingly threatened by environmental degradation. Participants examined these realities alongside the current educational context in Venezuela, identifying both challenges and opportunities for integrating climate awareness and human rights into school curricula.

This exchange laid the foundation for the development of a Manual on Climate Change and Human Rights in the Amazon, to be designed for teachers and school administrators. The goal is to equip educators with practical tools and resources to incorporate these essential topics into their curricula, helping students better understand and respond to the environmental and social challenges that affect their communities.

The workshop in Cúcuta marked an important step forward in the implementation of this initiative. The participants’ enthusiasm and shared commitment to justice, peace, and care for creation will inspire this new advocacy and educational initiative that seeks to defend human dignity and the Amazon, our common home.