Including Rural Youth Perspectives in Sustainable Development and Academic Research

Existing literature on rural youth largely focuses on labour and economic opportunities. Usually, rural youth studies focus on finding the right incentives for youth to have a life-course in farming and food production. However, this approach narrows rural youth aspirations to their economic role and. Few studies explore other factors that influence youth decision-making, such as role models, family networks, community relationships, and social norms—all of which shape their agency and capacity to pursue alternative life trajectories. Moreover, little research includes the perspective, ideas and experience of rural youth in their design. My study uses a participatory photovoice method grounded in Possible Selves theory, agency, and intersectionality to examine the aspirations and life courses of rural youth in La India, Colombia from the perspective of rural youth themselves. Conducted with 36 students aged 13–20, the research engaged participants through photography workshops, discussions, and community activities. The findings reveal a profound tension between youth aspirations and the structural realities of their context, where economic practices and illicit economic systems, coupled with a history of armed conflict, marginalize youth, undermine agency, and limit opportunities for meaningful participation. This context fosters aspirations focused on survival rather than transformative change, reinforcing cycles of poverty and exclusion.