Adaptation and Mitigation Awajún Women

The project trains women as actors of economic and socio-cultural development, education, family health and adaptation to climate change in an equal training process as men in their indigenous communityThe project trains women as actors of economic and socio-cultural development, education, family health and adaptation to climate change in an equal training process as men in their indigenous community.

Fast facts:

Around 60 women benefited directly from the project.
The project will reduce CO2 emissions, forest deforestation, loss of medical plants and monoculture.

The problem

Women in the indigenous community of Awajún are in charge of the land and agricultural production, at the same time, of the raising and feeding of their children as well as dealing with the household work. Currently, young women from this community migrate to the urban areas looking for job opportunities.

The solution

The project focuses on the sensitization of leaders about women’s empowerment and their role in Awajún. The project creates a common space for women to encourage their leadership skills as they train other women empowering themselves. The project also increases literacy among women to develop their self-esteem as well as comprehension and translation in their own language about climate change topics.

The project plans to mitigate climate change by improving technology in kitchens to avoid the use of wood from medical plants and to stop deforestation, as well as biodiversity. Workshops about the consequences of CO2 in their health and the benefits of recycling are intended to be given by a specialist in agronomy and evaluation practices.

The project plans to help people adapt to climate change by assigning women a garden center with native tree species and crops adaptable to climate stress, to manage the food chain as a pilot plan. This will help women building their leadership and decision making skills.

Helping the planet

The project will take the advantage of technology, education and best practices for cooking to reduce CO2 emissions, land deforestation, loss of medical plants and will increase crop diversification.

Helping people

Women will be empowered by a process that builds their skills in:
- Community life
- Leadership
- Communitarian development
- Community organization.

Scaling Up

Having a Women Committee Unit, which promotes a new comprehensive training for women, will make awareness in the communities about the possibility for women to have access to basic services, education and participation. This will draw attention and motivate women in the vicinities broadening the scope of the project, enabling success when dealing with important issues of climate change.