Location: Mushuk Llacta de Chipaota, Peru

Partner: Rainforest Partnership, CIMA

Funding: $5,000 (U.S.)

Duration: 1 or 2 months (two volunteer groups)

Dates:

         Long Session: May 24- August 11

         Short First Session: May 24- July 01

         Short Second Session: July 10-Aug 11

Who are we working to help?

This project targets the women, artisans, and craftspeople of the indigenous Quechua community in Chipaota. The long term benefits for the entire community results from the consistent source of income and preservation of lifestyle, culture, and environment stemming from our project.

Who are the Quechua?

Native Americans of South America who trace their lineage directly back to the Incan empire. The Quechua culture is rich and separate from that of the mainstream Spanish influence culture of Peru.

The Huallaga river, along which Chipaota is situated, is a river that goes through the rainforest and to date has the largest number of uncontacted Native American tribes.

Why do they need our help?

Right now, the women of the Quechua tribe harvest Piassaba fibers from the Piassaba tree of the rainforest and sell them in the local market at Tarapoto. The Piassaba trees are being over harvested and the women have to travel 2-3 hours on foot to reach the trees in order to harvest the fibers. This is the primary source of income.

How are we going to help?

Nourish volunteers are going to do two things. The first is work on a nursery of Piassaba plants in order to create a secondary rainforest from which the Quechua can harvest fibers. This will help conserve the primary rainforest and prevent deforestation.

Second, volunteers are going to help develop the Piassaba business. Quechua tribe members often create brooms and other materials to create cultural arts and crafts for their community. If they created those for the market at Tarapoto instead, they would have a higher steady income, and be less dependent overall on the Piassaba fiber harvest.

What are the benefits of the project?

After the volunteers leave, the Quechua participants will have the basic marketing, accounting, and management skills to continue the business, as well as still working with their local NGO. The steady income will allow the tribe to focus on education and nutrition. The Quechua generally suffer from about 50% malnutrition, and the consistent income will allow for better planning for food and health.

The benefits will not only affect the Quechua participants, but generations after them will be affected as well. The project will also help protect the Cordillera Azul Rainforest Preservation in Peru, where Piassaba fibers are being harvested from currently.