What the Sea Takes, It Doesn’t Return: Clarena Fonseca and the Fight for Climate Justice in La Guajira
"Everything that the sea takes away, it never returns." — Clarena Fonseca, Wayuu leader, La Guajira, Colombia
This April, as part of our Intersections of Resilience series, we’re elevating the voices of Latine leaders on the frontlines of climate justice. At HIP, we recognize that environmental leadership looks different in our communities: it’s rooted in lived experience, ancestral wisdom, and the fierce determination to protect what we love. For this feature, we chatted with Clarena Fonseca, a Wayuu leader from the coastal region of La Guajira, Colombia, who has transformed grief into action and erosion into resistance. She has spent her life defending her territory, her culture, and her people—especially the women—against the devastating impacts of coastal erosion and climate change.
A Defender Born from the Territory
Clarena’s journey began at age 15 when she took her first steps into community organizing. Today, she stands as a powerful advocate for her Wayuu community, La Guajira, in Colombia. The region she speaks to protect holds over 260 Wayuu communities, who face rising seas, vanishing coastlines, and government neglect. Through international forums like COP16 and local organizing in her region, she has had the opportunity to elevate a truth that too many have ignored: climate change is already here, and Indigenous communities are bearing some of its most devastating impacts.
Her advocacy is not just political—it’s personal. A mother of five, Clarena has watched with anguish as trees she grew up with have been uprooted, traditional trails disappeared, and entire families have been forced to abandon ancestral lands.
"The thread of life, the fabric, the hope... everything is going to the sea." Her words capture how every aspect of Wayuu life is being pulled into the ocean.
Climate Justice, Defined by Community
For Clarena, climate justice is the right to live in harmony with nature. It’s the preservation of ecosystems, the defense of Indigenous knowledge, and the ability to pass down traditions without fear of disappearance. It demands action, not endless studies or top-down plans. "They spend millions on studies, but there are no solutions," she said, referencing the Colombian government’s failure to deliver real mitigation strategies for the Wayuu people. Her vision cuts through the noise: meaningful support begins with presence, with showing up, being on the ground, and listening to the communities who know their territories like they know their own heartbeats.
A Call to Philanthropy
Clarena's message to philanthropy—especially international and climate-focused funders—is clear and powerful. "They need to come to the territory."
Support must be community-centered, not bureaucratic. It must flow directly to grassroots organizations and leaders who already understand the nuances of the crisis. For too long, Indigenous voices have been excluded from the decisions about their land.
At HIP, we echo Clarena’s message: philanthropy must be both responsive and relational. Solutions aren’t found in line items—they grow from trust, humility, and partnership.
Liderazgo Femenino: Women at the Frontlines
Her identity deeply shapes Clarena’s leadership as an Indigenous woman. The coastal erosion has had a disproportionate impact on Wayuu women—artisans, fishers, gatherers, caretakers—whose lives and livelihoods are tied to the land. “The family fabric has been torn apart,” describing how the displacement has torn apart families and disrupted cultural practices.
But she insists: the women are also the heart of the resistance. "That has been the greatest reason for resistance—the vulnerable women,” she affirmed. They are holding the line, preserving memory, and raising the next generation of defenders.
Her Hope Is a Call to Action
Clarena believes that somewhere out there, hay un ‘doliente’—someone who cares deeply enough to act. Whether it’s a partner, a funder, a policymaker, or a fellow advocate, she holds on to the hope that her voice will one day be transformed into lasting solutions for her community.
At HIP, we know this future is possible. We believe in leaders like Clarena who are building it every day with vision, determination, and resistance.
Land Defenders are calling. Are we listening?
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This feature is part of Hispanics in Philanthropy's "Intersections of Resilience" series, highlighting Latine leaders reimagining environmental and climate solutions. Read more about our other features, Laura and Gabriel.