By Emily Knudson | Director of Outreach and Philanthropy
Dear Supporters,
It is with a mix of gratitude and determination that we present the final progress report for our project, "Empowering LGBTQ+ Indigenous Conservation Leaders." While we must temporarily suspend this project due to a lack of sustained funding, we are proud of the incredible strides made and the lasting impact created.
Chadiz, a groundbreaking trans-woman environmental leader from the Embera community, has made history. Through her dedication, she has brought environmental education to dozens of indigenous children in her village, fostering a new generation of environmental stewards. Chadiz led impactful workshops, including one on medicinal and ancestral plants, where she shared invaluable traditional knowledge, and another on growing seeds for children, teaching them the basics of nurturing plant life.
These activities have not only educated but also inspired the children, nurturing in them a love and respect for their environment. Chadiz's work has laid a strong foundation for continued environmental activism in her community. She will persist in using her training to lead the charge in protecting Colombia's sacred and endangered wildlife through grassroots activism.
The Indigenous Embera Eyavide communities, where Chadiz has been working, are protectors of some of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth, home to endangered species like the cotton-top tamarin and the baudo oropendola. Chadiz's efforts have promoted representation and equality for trans-women, creating a more inclusive conservation effort.
We hope to re-employ Chadiz as a Women for Conservation (W4C) environmental educator in the future. In the meantime, we encourage those who want to continue empowering women and indigenous Colombian conservation leaders to support our ongoing project, "Help Women Save Colombian Rainforest." Your continued generosity can help us provide crucial training and resources to more women like Chadiz, who are on the front lines of conservation.
Thank you for believing in this project and for supporting our mission. Together, we can continue to empower rural and indigenous women to conserve endangered wildlife habitats at the local level.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Emily Knudson
Women for Conservation
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