Arhuaco woman to represent Latin America at Bhutan Congress of Happiness

Alejandra Izquierdo, a member of the Arhuaco people from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, has been selected to represent Latin America at the 2026 Congress of Happiness in Bhutan.

An engineer and doctoral candidate at the Universidad de los Andes, Izquierdo will participate in the ‘Regenerative Economies’ panel. Her contribution aims to bridge academic training with ancestral indigenous knowledge, focusing on human economy, interculturality, and social and territorial transformation.

The event in Bhutan promotes the Gross National Happiness model, which prioritizes psychological well-being, culture, health, environmental protection, and governance over traditional economic growth metrics. Izquierdo’s participation highlights the role of indigenous women in developing sustainable models that integrate cultural identity and territorial stewardship.