Indigenous leader supported by H360, Alejandra Izquierdo is appointed to work at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Last Tuesday (4), Colombian indigenous researcher and leader Alejandra Izquierdo took office as cabinet advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of her country. Representative of the Arhuaco people, Izquierdo became, in 2022, the first indigenous woman to be accepted as a doctoral student at the most prestigious university in Colombia.

To attend the Interdisciplinary Development Studies course at the Universidad de los Andes, in Bogotá, she had the support of the Humanitas360 Institute, which is proud to follow her trajectory. Now, she will take her experience as a community and academic leader to her work with Chancellor Luis Gilberto Murillo.

In a message to Alejandra, the president of H360, Patrícia Villela Marino, wrote: “What a joy to have met you and to have shared with you very difficult moments and other gigantic ones like today. You are an inspiration to me.”

Izquierdo became known in Colombia as a student leader during the country’s pacification process, gaining the position of spokesperson for indigenous youth before the Federal Government. The historic agreement, signed between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the government in September 2016, became a symbol of hope for the oldest democracy on our American continent.

From that time onwards, friendship and dialogue with Patrícia Villela Marino came. “We met at an event called ‘Women Working for the World’, at which I was the newest speaker. Since then, she has been my constant mentor and inspiration. I have already received her on visits to schools in our communities in Colombia, and she took me to participate in a panel at the Biennial of the Americas in Denver, USA. Patrícia is a constant inspiration for her humility and tireless social work,” says Izquierdo.