Trayectorias y aspiraciones de jóvenes rurales en territorios en transformación: el caso de zonas rurales de Cayambe, Ecuador

Abstract

This study comprises an analysis of the trajectories and aspirations of rural young people of Cayambe Canton, Pichincha Province in Ecuador, and their interrelations with the territory where they live, with an emphasis on issues relating to education, work, and family. The methodological approach combines secondary statistical data with in-depth interviews with rural young people of both sexes. The results reveal a diversity of experiences, showing the importance of territorial context in youth transitions, the relevance of support programs and public policies but also the role of their families, and aspirations and strategies focused on learning, economic ventures, and the beginnings of change in gender systems. It is concluded that rural young people experience the transformation of their territories as barriers and opportunities for their life projects and their feelings of connectedness with their communities and desires to contribute to them.