Leo Cerda

Climate Activist & Indigenous Rights Defender, Co-founder

Black & Indigenous Liberation Movement

Leo Cerda, from the Kichwa community of Serena in the Ecuadorian Amazon, is a climate activist and Indigenous rights defender who focuses on efforts to build a more just and sustainable society. Like many Indigenous Peoples, Leo had no choice but to learn about the struggles of his people at a young age, so he started working with local grassroots organizations to create awareness about the environmental and cultural impacts caused by the oil industry. He is the Founder of the HAKHU Project, a young organization that supports community-based economic initiatives as a way to fight against exploitative oil and mining development in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Leo currently serves and works with many organizations locally and internationally, bridging indigenous community initiatives and international support.