Educate & Plant: Empower 400 Bolivian Women

At the end of the year, the new Tara seedlings were delivered to the families at the end of November. 1500 seedlings were distributed to families from 15 villages. The number of participating families has increased by 13 families to a total of 196. In addition, the training series in the ECAs has been completed in the first villages. All residents of these villages who were interested in the trainings have already received them. 

With the end of 2021, the Qhari Warmi project phase also ended and the new Khuska Purispa project phase has begun. In this phase, we are focusing our work on strengthening the role of women in Micani. In addition, we are increasingly focusing on supporting not only the cultivation of tare, but also other entrepreneurial endeavours. 

To this end, we have set up a community fund from which families receive a certain amount of money to start their own business. After two years, this amount has to be paid back if the business is profitable. In December, the first six families were paid out and subsequently started their own businesses. Two families now keep pigs, two have opened a shop or a bakery and the last two families sell SIM cards. Payments to more families are planned for the coming months.

(German)

Zum Abschluss des Jahres erfolgte Ende November wieder die Auslieferung der neuen Tara-Setzlinge an die Familien. Es wurden 1500 Setzlinge an Familien aus 15 Dörfern verteilt. Die Zahl der teilnehmenden Familien hat sich dabei um 13 Familien auf jetzt insgesamt 196 erhöht. Darüber hinaus ist die Schulungsreihe in den ECAs in den ersten Dörfern abgeschlossen. Alle Bewohner dieser Dörfer, die an den Schulungen interessiert waren, haben diese auch bereits erhalten. 

Mit dem Ende des Jahres 2021 endete außerdem die Projektphase Qhari Warmi und die neue Projektphase Khuska Purispa hat begonnen. In dieser legen wir den Fokus unserer Arbeit auf die Stärkung der Rolle der Frauen in Micani. Zudem fokussieren wir uns verstärkt darauf nicht nur den Anbau von Tara, sondern auch andere unternehmerische Bestrebungen zu unterstützen. 

Dazu haben wir einen Community Fund eingerichtet, aus dem Familien einen bestimmten Geldbetrag erhalten, um damit ihr eigenes Unternehmen zu starten. Nach Ablauf von zwei Jahren muss dieser Betrag zurückgezahlt werden, sofern das Unternehmen Gewinne abwirft. Noch im Dezember erfolgte eine Auszahlung an die ersten sechs Familien, die im Anschluss ein eigenes Unternehmen gegründet haben. Zwei Familien halten jetzt Schweine, zwei haben ein Geschäft bzw. eine Bäckerei eröffnet und die letzten beiden Familien verkaufen SIM-Karten. Für die kommenden Monate ist eine Auszahlung an weitere Familien geplant.

Bolivia is characterized by strongly defined rain and dry seasons. 

During the dry season, almost all communities are accessible. During this time, a variety of workshops on gender equality, small business administration and other topics empower families and especially women in Micani.

The Tara seedlings are planted at the beginning of the rainy season. This year, another 4500 seedlings are set to be planted. The preparations consist of year-long workshops and logistic planning for this planting campaign. Our team on site has already taken all preparations and is ready for the planting campaign this November.

It is most important that the families have first-hand knowledge of how to plant the seedings and how to take care of the plants. Although most theoretical knowledge are passed on during the workshops, the practical knowhow is learnt by doing. This way, families and entire communities can pass on this knowledge and empower others.

During the rainy season, some communities are not accessible due to rising river levels. Micani’s population relies on consistent rainy seasons for farming. Therefore populations such as these are the ones most impacted by climate change. 

By cultivating Tara Plants, women can generate income through a small business. In this small business, women are in an equal position as their male counterparts, making gender equality even in rural Bolivia a reality.

There is still a long way to go, but with your support Bolivia is one step closer to a gender equal future.