Provide 50 Kichwa artisans with workshops and training to start a handicrafts business and earn steady income. This will allow conservation of the rainforest and the Kichwa lifestyle in Chipaota, Peru
Nourish-Austin will build a workshop and train Kichwa women in business skills to ensure steady income from traditional handicrafts. There are 1,300 people in the Mushuk Llacta de Chipaota tribe depending on unsustainable rates of Piassaba fiber harvests for crafts from the rainforest. They face over 50% malnutrition in the community and travel long distances to find the Piassaba tree because of deforestation.
Creating the plant nursery will allow the Kichwa to harvest fibers from there instead of in the Rainforest. The workshop and business training will generate steady income and help fight malnutrition with better food.
Generations of Chipaota Kichwas will benefit. The businesses can be expanded as the population needs. The rainforest conservation plan is responsive to the needs of the community and the forest. It does not hurt one or the other at any point in time.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
