This thesis is about youth’s experiences of empowerment in the youth group Habla Batería in Lima, Peru. The objective of this thesis is to understand why and how the youth’s experience of empowerment occurs while they participate in the group. The thesis examines theories of collective identity and agency in the context of structural violence. The purpose is to form a holistic understanding of the social context in which the youth’s experience and action situate while at the same time analyze the impact of action on the structure and experience.

Identity and the youth’s collective action are examined from the viewpoint of social construction. The analysis is based on the data and observations gathered during a six-month fieldwork period from July to December 2013. The field data is complemented by the interviews and observations I carried out during a two-week visit to Peru in the end of 2014.

The social stratification of the Peruvian society and the context of general insecurity in the marginalized urban areas have an impact on youth’s experiences of powerlessness. The new meanings, identities, and new forms of agency constructed through the youth’s collective action contribute to experiencing empowerment. The group provides the youth a space within which the renewal of one’s experience of self and one’s role in society is made possible through social interaction. The change that occurs in the youth’s experience of being a part of society is an empowering experience of breaking down the social and physical barriers set by the social context.

The thesis underlines the relevance of a holistic approach for the understanding of the lived experience. By examining both the external and internal factors that have an impact on the youth’s experiences of change, we may improve our understanding of the impacts the social structures have on individuals as well as gain a better understanding of individuals’ agency and experience of the surrounding structures. Anthropological approach that pieces together the big picture and small details is a worthy method for analytical examining of the practical expressions and occurrence of ambiguous concepts like empowerment.