Fátima Delgado Medina is an Ecuadorian expert with over 16 years of experience in sustainable development, climate action and circular economy. With a strong background in ethnographic sciences, entrepreneurship and sustainability sciences, she has worked extensively with indigenous communities, small farmers, and gender-based grassroots organisations throughout Latin America. Her work deeply challenges the conventional narratives of sustainability, development and innovation in the Global South, addressing the ‘colonial wound’ that often shapes such discourses. As an educator and researcher, she has contributed significantly to putting decolonial thinking into action, most notably through her role in developing courses such as “Beyond Development: Pluriverse for Sustainable & Impact” and “Idea to Start-up Climate Action”, both of which focus on decolonising sustainability and entrepreneurship at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
This manifesto narrates the transformative journey of an Ecuadorian educator and practitioner in regenerative and decolonial practices. It illustrates the profound impact of inclusivity and social justice in her teaching Participatory Action-Research (PAR) practices with students and Global South communities. This transformative approach, deeply rooted in the history, culture and struggles of marginalised communities, particularly in Latin America, is more than a theoretical concept; it is a lived reality.
By blending storytelling, Indigenous People and Local Communities’ (IPLCs) wisdom and academic insights, this piece underscores the importance of recognising and valuing diverse voices in the discourse on sustainability and regeneration. The manifesto calls for and reclaims a transformative approach that embraces inclusivity, social justice and the rich tapestry of human experiences, such as deeper colonial wounds, epistemic disobedience, resistance, sometimes – sadness and frustration – and resilience of Latin American voices, including hers. Note: Please fully watch the hyperlinks included in the manifesto to fully immerse yourself.
