In the Peruvian Amazon Shipibo families suffer several diseases. Most can be easily cured but the public health system isn't efficient. Thus, we are promoting medicinal gardens as an alternative healthcare system, besides supporting the preservation of traditional knowledge. In the past we supported a medicinal garden in the community of Paoyhan. Now in 2021 we have moved our efforts to the city since 25% of Shipibo People live there and coronavirus unveiled they need and want more support.
The Shipibo-Konibo have a long cultural history of traditional healing and possess vast knowledge of medicinal plants. However, this generation has experienced difficulty in merging this traditional knowledge with the greater contemporary healthcare system. Increasingly, younger generations leave behind ancestral knowledge, opting instead for other income generating activities. Therefore, there's been a steep decline in the transmission of precious medicinal plant knowledge to Shipibo youth.
Medicinal botanical gardens have the capacity: 1) to improve the community's health care through the revitalization of Shipibo ancestral medicinal knowledge, 2) Promote and strengthen the sustainable use of medicinal plants in urban areas that can be cultivated; 3) Disseminate and facilitate access to information on ancestral knowledge in the use and application of medicinal plants; 4) Promote communication and spaces for dialogue between Masters and wise elders on ancestral knowledge
Our long-term goal is to expand models of medicinal gardens for the self-management of families, organizations or communities, incorporating education programs for children and young people; intercultural research; debates related to medicinal plants; tourism and use for the creation of sustainable businesses.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
