In order to discuss the crucial role that youth have in the social and political development of the communities in which they live, the Rights and Citizenship Institute (IDC) promoted debates and coordinated workshops from March 27-30 to celebrate World Youth Day.

The activities took place at state high schools in the Bahia municipalities of Ituberá, Igrapiúna, Piraí do Norte, Ibirapitanga and Nilo Peçanha – all part of the Pratigi Environmental Protection Area (EPA) –, in addition to Presidente Tancredo Neves.

The central focus of the debates was the concept of Youth Leadership, which promotes the decision to think about youth as a part of the solution as opposed to part of the problem.
 
During the event, knowledge was discussed within the context of the Bahia Southern Lowlands EPA Mosaic Integrated and Sustainable Development
Program (PDIS) – sponsored by the Odebrecht Foundation and of which IDC is part – through lectures administered by the youth who are part of PDIS.

The initiative was supported by Municipal Departments of Education and institutions associated with the program. World Youth Day is part of a calendar of PDIS actions designed to celebrate commemorative dates during 2012. The idea is to bring the Southern Lowland communities closer to the institutions that are part of PDIS.