Regina Trejo

Accion Inspira
Jul 26, 2025
5 min read

Youth Leadership Through Vocational Empowerment

At just 17 years old, Regina Trejo Hernández from Pachuca, Hidalgo, is not just imagining a better future—she’s organizing it, one student at a time. With her powerful youth-led initiative Mujeres Cambiamos el Futuro (Women Who Change the Future), Regina is revolutionizing vocational guidance for students across Latin America. Her vision: to help young people choose their careers not based on pressure or stereotypes, but on self-knowledge, access, and empowerment.

What began as a personal frustration—navigating college options without proper guidance—quickly turned into a full-fledged youth community now impacting students from Mexico to Peru, Chile, and Nicaragua.

“I realized we often choose careers based on what others expect of us, not on what we truly are or want,” Regina says. “That needed to change.”

From Frustration to Foundation

During her own university application process, Regina struggled to find reliable, unbiased vocational guidance. Worse, she noticed how many students were discouraged from pursuing their dream careers due to gendered assumptions or lack of mentorship.

“I kept hearing things like, ‘If you’re going to study architecture, you must be creative,’ or ‘If you want to be a chef, you must love cooking every day.’ These aren’t helpful—they’re limiting,” she recalls.

So Regina did what few teenagers would: she created a community-based program to transform how youth explore careers. At the heart of her project is a signature Vocational Orientation Program, uniquely designed by and for young people. The initiative includes career exploration workshops, personalized guidance, expert-led sessions on emotional development, and even debate clubs based on films—all organized 100% virtually, with a multicultural team from across Mexico and Latin America.

Innovation Rooted in Inclusion

One of the most pivotal moments in Regina’s journey came when she faced a difficult institutional barrier: men were not allowed to accompany her into a local Women’s Institute, even though she was underage and needed her father's support. That experience prompted a deep reflection on the meaning of true inclusivity.

“I realized that if we exclude men from these conversations, we also block the possibility for them to understand, change, or support gender equity,” she says.

From that moment, she decided Mujeres Cambiamos el Futuro would be open to all youth, not just young women. Today, her program works with both girls and boys across the region, addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education (SDG 4) and Gender Equality (SDG 5) from a lens of shared responsibility.

Results that Resonate

The numbers speak volumes: Regina’s pilot program registered 56 participants from all corners of Mexico, with some from Peru, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Chile. Her unique methodology blends practical career simulations, interactive counseling, and values-based workshops that focus on emotional intelligence, inclusion, and future planning.

What sets her initiative apart is that it doesn’t "sell" careers. It helps students discover both the bright and hard realities of each path. “We want students to make informed choices, not idealized ones,” she says.

Her team—made up of young leaders from Hidalgo, Guerrero, Lima, and beyond—operates the entire project digitally, managing everything from social media to strategic partnerships via Drive and online meetings.

A Legacy of Access and Self-Determination

When asked how she wants to be remembered, Regina responds with clarity:

“I want to be a symbol of diversity and inclusion in higher education. I want young people to understand that they can create anything—if they just believe in themselves.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Regina is working toward institutional validation for her program to expand its credibility and reach. With partnerships from municipal governments already in place, she aims to secure national and international endorsements.

But beyond recognition, her deepest wish is simple: “I want more boys to join. We talk about equity, but equity needs everyone involved.”

Final Words to the World

To all young women and youth around the world, Regina leaves this message:

“It doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you stay true to your purpose. The path may change, but the intention is what matters.”

With her bold leadership, empathetic approach, and systemic thinking, Regina Trejo Hernández isn’t just changing futures—she’s building a new one.

Regina Trejo Hernández: Liderazgo juvenil a través del empoderamiento vocacional

Con apenas 17 años, Regina Trejo Hernández, de Pachuca, Hidalgo, no solo está soñando con un futuro mejor: lo está construyendo, paso a paso, junto a cientos de jóvenes en América Latina. Su iniciativa Mujeres Cambiamos el Futuro es mucho más que un programa de orientación vocacional; es una plataforma juvenil que rompe estereotipos y brinda herramientas reales para tomar decisiones informadas.

Lo que comenzó como una inquietud personal en medio del estrés por elegir carrera, hoy es una comunidad juvenil que impacta a estudiantes en México, Nicaragua, Perú, Venezuela y Chile.

“Nos enseñan a elegir con base en lo que se espera de nosotros, no en lo que somos o queremos ser,” dice Regina. “Eso debía cambiar.”

De la Duda a la Acción

Durante su búsqueda de universidades, Regina notó la falta de orientación clara y honesta. Peor aún, muchos estudiantes eran desmotivados por estigmas de género y falta de acompañamiento.

“No basta con decir ‘te gusta esto, estudia esto’. Hay que conocer las realidades, lo bueno y lo malo de cada carrera,” afirma.

Así nació su programa de asesorías vocacionales, que ofrece desde talleres prácticos hasta debates guiados por psicólogos, sesiones sobre cambios hormonales con pediatras especializados, y espacios para fortalecer el crecimiento personal. Todo 100% virtual, con un equipo internacional y joven.

Inclusión de Verdad

Uno de los momentos más significativos en su trayectoria fue cuando no permitieron entrar a su papá con ella al Instituto de las Mujeres por ser hombre, aun cuando era menor de edad. Esa experiencia le abrió los ojos.

“¿Cómo queremos cambiar al mundo si excluimos a quienes también deben aprender?”, reflexiona.

Desde entonces, su comunidad juvenil se abrió a todos los jóvenes, reconociendo que la equidad se construye con participación y conciencia colectiva.

Impacto Real

Con más de 50 registros en su primera convocatoria, y participantes de al menos 5 países, el impacto de Mujeres Cambiamos el Futuro va en aumento. Su metodología es única: explica las carreras desde lo real, lo práctico y lo emocional, buscando que cada joven descubra su propio camino, sin venderle una idea idealizada.

Su equipo diverso trabaja desde distintos estados de México y desde Lima, demostrando que los proyectos digitales liderados por jóvenes pueden ser tan rigurosos como transformadores.

El Legado que Quiere Dejar

Cuando se le pregunta cómo quiere ser recordada, Regina responde con firmeza:

“Quiero ser una imagen de diversidad e inclusión en la educación superior. Quiero que los jóvenes sepan que pueden crear cualquier cosa si creen en ellos.”

Sus planes a futuro incluyen validar su programa ante más instituciones, crecer su equipo, y llegar a más comunidades marginadas.

Pero su deseo más sincero es ver más chicos en el programa. “La equidad se construye entre todos.”