Julián Rodríguez Sastoque is the youngest council member in the city of Bogota’s history and one of the most renowned young politicians in Colombia. He is an economist and holds a master's degree in Territorial Planning and Environmental Management. He has more than 14 years of experience working in youth participation, training processes for youth, environmental and peacebuilding initiatives. 

Julián has been Colombia's youth representative and speaker at international forums in more than 25 countries and at the United Nations General Assembly. In 2017, he was awarded the Emerging Leader award from the Washington Academy of Political Arts and Sciences and the National Youth Volunteerism Award. Julián also was a promoter of the Youth Citizenship Law in Colombia. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Itinerant School of Leadership for Peace

The project strengthened democracy in Colombia by training young citizens to participate in the decision-making process through an itinerant leadership school. The school offered trainings to a diverse cohort of students in five areas of the country and addressed local needs such as employment, social development and climate change. The 270 participants benefited from the teamwork, collaboration with local partners, and the materials presented in this class. The classes were designed to encourage students to train others in the community on the topics they learned. The project also garnered significant social media support and requests have been received for similar classes to be held in different regions of the country.

Julián also participated in the IVLP Impact Awards Alumni Discussion Series panel on “Youth and Civic Engagement,” which you can read more about here.

"It's amazing we have the opportunity to have [this program] here because we, as community, want to receive training to add growth and sustainable development in our department." – Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Julián participated in the IVLP Project Not Too Young to Run – Engaging Youth in the Political Process, organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Meridian International Center, in partnership with Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, WorldDenver, World Affairs Council of New Hampshire and the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City.

Julián's exchange experience led to the development of his IVLP Impact Award Project: "[The IVLP Experience] was fulfilling because I confirmed the need our societies have to promote civic and political engagement in young people."

U.S. Communities Visited

Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; Washington, DC; Manchester, NH; New York City, NY

"In Colorado, I had the opportunity to know about different youth initiatives about citizen control over public decisions, politicians and public policies...if we want to promote a new generation of leaders for peacebuilding in Colombia, it’s mandatory to have an essential knowledge about all these matters." - Julián Rodríguez Sastoque

Country: Colombia 

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