This three-year project aims to tackle the extreme poverty, underemployment and high functional illiteracy rates found in the rural areas of Peruvian Amazon by helping to develop the managerial, organizational and leadership skills of young people who live in the region. The project is supported by the funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland to the development cooperation projects of NGOs.
Objectives
This project extends and expands geographically the project started in 2008 (Support for Youth Leadership, Cultural Identity and Occupational Training as a Tool for Development in Selected Communities in Alto Mayo and Central Huallaga in Peru). The long-term development objective of the project is to help the youth population in the rural communities of the Peruvian Amazon to reach adequate level of sustainable development, based on environmental awareness, legal economic activities, democratic participation and proactive and pro-social leadership. The direct objective is to promote and enhance the formation process of socially and politically responsible youth leaders through the development of self-management, cultural identity and leadership skills and promotion of business endeavors with a better environmental awareness and knowledge.
Target group/beneficiaries
The project will work with 32 rural communities in 5 regions of the Peruvian rainforest: Pasco, Huanuco, Ucayali, Cusco and Ayacucho. Among the communities are indigenous communities belonging to two ethnic groups, “Astaninkas” and “Yaneshas”. The project will have a direct impact on 2,520 youth leaders, ages 15 to 25, and will indirectly benefit 5,000 children and 5,000 adults.
Implementation/Results
The project is implemented through providing training to 2,520 young people in life skills, leadership, cultural identity and occupational skills. Activities include training and transfer of methodologies in training sessions; promotion and distribution of information through community centres; promotion of youth volunteer work through community outreach activities; occupational training and formation of environmentally friendly endeavors through training of youth in production of sacha inchi (plant increasingly cultivated in Amazon area, rich in protein and Omega oils), as well as in ecological tourism.
After a three-year intervention, the following results will be achieved:
enhanced capacities among the target population to participate and exercise a democratic leadership in their communities
enhanced acknowledgement of their cultural identity and traditions
increased environmental awareness among the target population and communities
improved labor competences for the development of small productive endeavors, based on self-management skills and respect for environment
