”I've learned that I can be a leader in my community”
The Awajún School of Governance reached a major milestone, graduating its first class of 54 young students from five Indigenous communities in Alto Mayo (San Martin region), Peru. Graduates have the tools to play a more active role in the decision-making processes in their community.
Lorena Jiukam joined the Awajún School of Governance to learn about leadership and governance, community management and administration, and the rights of Indigenous peoples. After attending the 18 months program, she now has the tools to play a more active role in the decision-making processes in her community Huascayacu.
"Before I joined the program, I was told I wasn't fit to be a leader, but now that I've participated in this program I've learned that I can be one. I learned how a leader should be, respectful of its people", said Lorena Jiukam.
The Awajún School of Governance was created to train Indigenous leaders to revalue their cultural wealth, strengthen their Indigenous identity and connect with and protect their territory.
Future leaders promoting Indigenous governance
Few months ago, the Awajún School of Governance reached a major milestone, graduating its first class of 54 young students from five Indigenous communities in Alto Mayo (San Martin region), Peru.
"This is the first group of young people, who will ensure a future with women and men leaders committed to the well-being of their Awajún communities," said Edward Cahuaza, Regional Awajún Indigenous Federation of Alto Mayo - FERIAAM.
“The work of the Governance School is important because it allows us to impart different knowledge about leadership, governance, administration, and the rights of Indigenous peoples to community members, which is not taught in regular schools," he added.
Supporting Indigenous self-determination
The program has encouraged the participants to engage with their own cultural practices and knowledge as a means of forming the next leaders who will work to preserve and pass on the best economic, social and environmental interests of their people and territory.
"We believe that change must be based on what Indigenous peoples understand and feel they can trust.", said Diego Dourojeanni, Director of Indigenous Peoples at Conservation International.
"The School of Governance reflects the initiatives being implemented to generate social and economic change in the Alto Mayo landscape towards a sustainable development path based on existing Indigenous institutions and their knowledge systems,” he added.
The Awajún School of Governance project is implemented by the Andean Project of Peasant Technologies - PRATEC in the communities of Alto Mayo, Alto Naranjillo, Huascayacu, Morroyacu and Shampuyacu, promoted by the Regional Awajún Indigenous Federation of Alto Mayo - FERIAAM and Conservation International.
Conservation International’s Alto Mayo Awajún Communities Landscape project is supported by the BHP Foundation Environmental Resilience program that empowers Indigenous peoples and local communities who look after and protect more than 80% of the planet’s remaining biodiversity. Learn more.
