The initiative is focused on the preservation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and to use it effectively in promoting sustainable land use of the riverine landscape. This microgrant perfectly fits in to facilitate a training in digital media to amplify the use of TEK in community-based ecotourism and to promote their sustainable entrepreneurship on the internet. After the training, the people learn by doing throughout the project.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Leticia
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
The indigenous communities along the Amazon river in the south of the Colombian Amazon. 12 communities are involved with 30 to 500 inhabitants, and are principally inhabited by the Tikuna people. Some communities are located in the floodplains with houses on poles or rafts, others are located on high grounds. The floodplain forests, the fish, and fertile soils have sustained the people for generations, and are vital to their economy.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The indigenous communities in the project area are underrepresented in the tourism sector within their own territories. To compete with tourist agencies from e.g. Leticia and Bogotá, it is important for the communities to tell, show, and share with the people by digital technology their vision, way of working, the complementary value of community-based ecotourism and TEK to unveil some catching stories and beautiful photos of the environment.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Other tools
Develop and practice communicative skills in using email and skype.
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.
As a result of previous work experience in the project area in 2011-2012 with the same communities, and local partner organization Painü – a local community-based ecotourism association – resulting from a project in 2011, there is yet a solid trustful base for the project with the target group and Painü. The project also builds on yet existing partnerships with governmental and non-governmental entities like Corpoamazonia and Tropenbos Colombia.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
3 pers. of Painü and 6 youngsters. The impetus for the project comes from the target group, which demonstrates their motivation and urgency towards this project. Thus finding the people won’t be difficult, neither to sustain their participation. Additionally, fair wages are paid and previous experiences with communities have revealed that tangible, visible and practical end results, positively influence the participation, progress and continuity.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
- Training material in spanish focused on digital media and communities.
– Support in developing internet tools to successful dissemination on regional, national, and international level.
Contact name
Kornelis A. van Vliet
Organization
Stichting Mandioca.