Fundación Raíz Ecuador – Caemba has started its activities in the territory for the project ‘Development of bio-enterprises derived from cassava and peach palm with Siekopai and Siona cultural identity.’ Raíz is part of the Bio-enterprises in the Northern Amazon project, funded through the Small Grants Program (SGP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition.
The objective is to strengthen productive associations of women living in Siona and Siekopai communities within the Cuyabeno Faunistic Production Reserve and its buffer zone. At the end of the process, three products (bio-enterprises) will be defined for commercialization. In this way, women ensure having sustainable livelihoods.
The women participated in the socialization process in the Siekopai and Siona indigenous communities.
To introduce this project, Pablo Yépez, Executive Director of Fundación Raíz Ecuador – Caemba, along with Emilio Pallares, project technical assistant of Raíz, visited Lago Agrio on Tuesday, June 8, 2021, to present the project to the Prefect of Sucumbíos, Mr. Amado Chávez, and other officials of the Provincial Government of Sucumbíos.
The meeting with the authorities of Sucumbíos took place at the GAD Sucumbíos office in Lago Agrio.
At the meeting, the action plans were outlined to establish a strategic alliance between both organizations with the aim of benefiting the Siekopai and Siona indigenous communities of Sucumbíos.
Furthermore, on Wednesday, June 9, the project socialization process began with the women’s associations of two Siekopai communities and one Siona community at the community center of Wai’ya in the province of Sucumbíos.
In the socialization workshops, Mr. Elias Piaguaje, president of the Siekopai-NASEPAI nationality, also participated. The participants and authorities of this indigenous nationality reaffirmed their desire to work together with Raíz to achieve the objectives of our foundation, which are the multiplication of well-being and the generation of sustainable communities.
Mr. Elias Piaguaje, president of the Siekopa-NASEPAI nationality, during the socialization with the women.
We aim to multiply well-being and create sustainable communities through this project. Our goal is to improve the living conditions of women, and in that context, the work we do in favor of these women is essential to achieve the objective of creating sustainable communities.
We thank the SGP, the GAD Sucumbíos, and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition for working together to benefit the women of these communities.
