INTRODUCING AHUANA

Ecuador, a small Latin-American country located northwest of the South-American continent, has been undergoing an economic crisis head on for the past several years. This has considerably worsened poverty, especially with the poorest populations in the country--the natives-who traditionally are key actors in the rural world. This poverty increase has multiple, disastrous consequences on living conditions, demography (emigration) and progressive loss of native culture.

The Ahuana project addresses this situation by supporting socio-economic development initiatives in the native communities from the parish of Calpi, in the province of Chimborazo, from their beginnings until their full autonomy.

It should be noted that the creation and implementation of projects are the result of each community organization's good will.

WEAVING A SOLIDARITY NETWORK

"Ahuana" means "to weave" in Quichua, the natives' mother tongue. Indeed the goal is to allow for different community projects to complement one another, in order to build a strong, local socio-economic network.

PROJECTS TYPES

On the one hand, projects are characterized by the creation of community micro-businesses. This system of "economy of solidarity" aims to create alternative income sources--distinct from the existing, insufficient ones, in order to improve the native communities' standard of living.
On the other hand, projects deal with health, education and environmental improvements.

One common goal to all these initiatives is to develop and conserve the native culture (agriculture, food, Quechua culture, etc.)

OUR SUPPORTS

Communities may get in contact with the Native Pastoral in Calpi, which offers support in the realization of projects.

Native Pastoral in Calpi
The Pastoral is formed by a representative of each of the 19 communities in the parish of Calpi, as well as a native nutritionist, and a group of international volunteers.

The involvement of the Native Pastoral is mainly characterized by the professional training offered to allow for the launch and progressive self-government of projects. Beyond training, the Native Pastoral's assistance involves human resources support, with specific know-how in management, project management, computer science, agribusiness engineering, communication, etc.

Moreover, the Ahuana organization, based in France, is seeking international financial support.