Conference Opening Act

By: Josselyn Flores

Starting with their own dances representing the spirituality and gratitude of the peoples originating in the Caribbean Coast and with warm greetings from the authorities of URACCAN, ONECA and special guests, the participating delegations from all over Central America were received at the XV Conference of African Central American and Diaspora Youth, at the event held at the URACCAN Bluefields venue.

From August 15 to 17 of the current, URACCAN, holds the XV meeting of Young Afro of the Central American Black Organization (ONECA) at its Bluefields university campus, under the slogan: "Young Leadership for Social Change".

This meeting began with a dialogue table, chaired by Ing. Jonny Hodsong, delegate of the presidency; Lic Shayra Downs Morgan, President of the Regional Autonomous Council of the South Caribbean; Dr. Alta Hooker Blandford, rector of URACCAN; Ms. Mirtha Colon, president of ONECA; Mr Leonel Gongora, coordinator of the OneCA Youth Secretariat; Mr. Bernandin Dixon, Director of the Center for Multi-Ethnic Women's Studies and Information (CEIMM-URACCAN); Mr. Kelsie Sambola of the Nicaraguan Institute of Culture RACCS and Regional Councillor and Mr. Dembrie Hodsong, President of the Creole Territorial Government.

Words of welcome

The vice-chancellor of the URACCAN Bluefields compound, MSc. Diala López extended the welcome to the participants and guests of that meeting, referencing the young people from the different countries representing ONECA. He also mentioned the activity, as part of the struggle of the Afro-descendant peoples, the month of black heritage, the UNESCO Professor and the XXV Anniversary of URACCAN.

López also referred to URACCAN's participation in its compliance as the First Intercultural Community University, in the training of human talents and the accompaniment to strengthening the leadership and empowerment of young Afro for social change, in promoting cultural ethnic identity and spirituality.

For her part, The Lic Shayra Downs, invited young Afros, to be cultural leaders, in their studies and in every social sphere that unfold, giving as a message the empowerment of their heritage and their roots and history, honoring their ancestors and proudly promoting, from spirituality, their ethnic and cultural identity.

Similarly, during the inaugural event of this celebration, 3 conferences were held, related to the history of the Afro peoples of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast and Central America. It also addressed the work of the Central American Black Organization (ONECA) and its Importance in Action from the African Central American Youth, and also addressed the Strengthening of Afro-Descendant Identity in Central America and the Diaspora, by engineer Johnny Hodgson, delegate of the presidency; Mirtha Colon, president of ONECA and the Msp. Alta Hooker, rector of URACCAN; Respectively.