Support native artisans & rainforest in the Amazon

Amazon Ecology has continued to support the growth of artisans from communities along the Ampiyacu River this year to develop their craft making, leadership skills and personal development. Their experiences highlighted our joint achievements, and the participants’ stories convey their appreciation of learning, change, and hope.

Our Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) program has made a deep impression on several communities. In June, we held a basic workshop in the Bora native community of Nuevo Perú, where participants explored the importance of empathy, self-control, and communication as tools to strengthen family and community relationships. One session helped participants identify their emotional “triggers” and how to manage them constructively. This experience allowed them to see the impact of their emotions on their relationships, sparking sincere reflections and commitments to change. Participants also jumped into active “light and livelies” that catalyzed laughter, entangled limbs, cooperative problem solving and trust. On the final day, participants contemplated how they wanted to grow in the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and physical realms and then shared their appreciation for each other and the whole process.

Pedro commented, “This workshop helped me understand that being a good father to my children starts with controlling myself. I want to be an example of calm and respect in my home.” Clotilde considered her experience an awakening: “I’ve rarely participated in workshops, but this one was different. Each exercise made me reflect, and I never thought the way I react could affect my family so much. Now I know I can change and start to act differently.”

In August, we conducted an advanced AVP workshop in Santa Lucía de Pro. These sessions reinforced self-control and good communication and deepened the skills needed to build a community based on respect and mutual support. Fernando shared, “It’s a pleasure to open our minds and get to know each other more. Sometimes we don’t know what others, even our neighbors, are going through, and this workshop taught us that empathy and friendship are fundamental to building a better community.” Fernando’s sentiments captured a shared feeling among attendees, who appreciated the space for reflection and learning.

We have also continued our work to strengthen artisans’ abilities to negotiate and work together. In August, we conducted one organization workshop in Brillo Nuevo and another in Pucaurquillo Bora. They focused on market research, customer negotiation, cooperation, and the importance of connecting with people. Artisans learned and practiced ways to improve the sale of their products and expand their market reach.

Mayra, president of a local artisan association shared how these sessions were valuable to her as a leader: “These workshops teach us in a way we can understand. The facilitators make jokes, they speak our language, and that helps us learn with ease. As president, my greatest wish is for all my members to participate so we can improve together. If we all understand how to organize and negotiate, we can take our crafts to more places and strengthen our community.” Mayra’s enthusiasm demonstrated how community leaders want to transform knowledge into a resource for everyone.

For young artisans like Robertina, these workshops have been a starting point to represent their community at fairs and markets. She told us, “The first time I went to a fair, I didn’t know how to interact with buyers or sell my products. Now, with what I learned in this workshop, I feel ready to negotiate, to speak about our crafts confidently, and to make sure our work is valued.” This sense of empowerment has been key to encourage young artisans to feel supported and motivated to get involved in community activities.

In September, we held an Artisan Facilitator Workshop in Pucaurquillo, designed for experienced artisans who wish to share their knowledge with others. Over four days, artisans practiced their craft-making skills and learned how to lead, organize, and guide a group. Many groups faced the challenge of crafting new birds and other animals from photos including the barn owl, downy woodpecker, mallard duck, poison arrow frog and a bumble bee. Marianela, an artisan from the Marañon River commented: “Taking on the role of facilitator within a group was a huge challenge. At first, I was afraid I wouldn’t know how to guide my colleagues, but I remembered the steps from previous workshops, and little by little, I gained confidence. In the end, with everyone’s help, we completed our group’s craft together, and I realized that I can indeed be a good leader.”

These experiences benefit the participants’ and create a ripple effect in their communities. When an artisan like Marianela gains the confidence to lead, they help develop a new generation of artisans who will, in turn, amplify the knowledge they’ve acquired.

These past months have been a period of immense learning and transformation for the communities along the Ampiyacu. From personal reflections in the Alternatives to Violence workshops to collaboration in the craft-making, leadership and organization workshops, each event has provided opportunities for individual growth and strengthening communities. As Nilo from Santa Lucía de Pro, expressed, “This learning is important so we don’t just live together in our communities, but we also understand and support each other with what we need. That way, we can all be better.”

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