NewsBamboo and Leadership Workshop held in Ecuador for International Women’s Day
More than 30 Amazonian women from the provinces of Napo, Pastaza and Morona Santiago celebrated International Women’s Day with a bamboo and leadership workshop.
In the province of Pastaza in Ecuador, the workshop “Amazonian Women; Bamboo Leaders” was held on 7 and 8 March. The meeting was held within the framework of the “Bambuzonía” project, promoted by INBAR together with financing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the support of the Provincial Government of Pastaza, EcoCiencia Foundation, SOMOS Foundation and UN Women.
INBAR together with its strategic allies during the opening ceremony of the workshop
The event was attended by more than 30 Amazonian women, who reinforced their knowledge about the uses and benefits of bamboo and leadership and empowerment processes for decision-making for local governance spaces.
Yuli Santamaría, belonging to the Andoa nationality, indicates that these meetings are key to learning and exploring the themes of this resource. “This space has helped us to get to know bamboo even more. We have discovered it. It is a strong material from which houses can be made and has many other uses,” she adds.
Yuli Santamaría and Katherine Salazar are two young people of the Andoa nationality
In this context, her friend Katherine Salazar, a member of the same community, also agrees, pointing out that bamboo provides opportunities for her area. “It is a good source, with this material you can do various things such as lamps, natural products, it is a way for our communities to get ahead,” she emphasizes.
For her part, Vanessa Pinto, president of the Somos Foundation and in charge of teaching some of the workshop topics, highlighted the participation and exchange of experiences among Amazonian women leaders. “These women know bamboo and have skills in their hands to do great things with this material,” she said.
As part of the event’s activities, the participants, together with the INBAR team, visited the Guadua Park, located within the facilities of Finca Pigual. During their visit, they met different species of bamboo and shared experiences about the ancestral uses that bamboo has in their communities.
Workshop participants visited the facilities of Finca Pigual
At the end of the two days of the workshop, the participants received their attendance certificates from the event organizers during an emotional ceremony.
More than 30 Amazonian women received their certificate of attendance
Learn more about the Bambuzonía project.
