On October 7, 2021, this gastronomy course, which began on July 21 at the ‘El Salnés’ restaurant, part of espai epicur, in Quito, concluded. ‘United by Cooking’ (UNICO) was led by Chef Mauricio Acuña, who shared knowledge and flavors with 11 young people from the Siekopai, A’i Cofán – Sinanwe, and Siona nationalities.
At the diploma award ceremony for completing the course.
This training was carried out within the framework of the project ‘Conservation of biodiversity through bioenterprises in the Northern Amazon.’ The Raíz Ecuador – CAEMBA Foundation was responsible for financing the course for six Siona and Siekopai youths. The other five scholarship recipients from the A’i Cofán – Sinanwe and Kichwa nationalities were supported by the Lianas Center Foundation.
This project aims to strengthen the capacity of indigenous men and women to produce and market Neapia (black chili), cassava, flour, Amazonian fish, and other organic products to improve their income. The income they will receive will help improve the family budget, thus reducing pressure on the forest, deforestation, and hunting of wildlife for sale.
A showcase of Amazonian bioenterprises.
Over the course of nearly three months, these young individuals learned about gastronomic techniques, focusing also on leadership, entrepreneurship, sustainable production, and financial education. Now, they will return to their communities to apply everything they have learned in the Amazon. This training aims to empower agents of change through their own knowledge of the products found in the richness of the Amazon.
We extend our gratitude to all who have made this project possible:
– Small Grants Programme (SGP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ecuador
– Program for Supporting the National System of Protected Areas (PASNAP)
– Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (MAATE)
– German cooperation
– KFW (German Development Bank)
– Canopy Bridge
– Restaurant ‘El Salnés’ – espai epicur
– Lianas Center Foundation
– Chef Mauricio Acuña
