EnglishWe look forward to attending the Clinton Global Initiative later this month where we’ll be recognized for our work empowering women and supporting sustainable agriculture.
A relatively young organization founded by women, we launched our environmental programs in communities throughout the Rivas province of Nicaragua, with no thought for the gender of our participants. Over time it has become apparent that the success of Paso Pacifico’s projects hinges on the generous participation and concentrated effort of the women in various communities where we work.
For example, for two years Paso Pacifico has worked to mitigate climate-change by planting over a quarter of a million native trees. Tree nurseries were established by the community at large, but it was the women who developed techniques to germinate the seeds of rare trees, continuously weeded the seedlings, and who carefully planted the trees to avoid root damage. This reduction in greenhouse gases is the direct result of the actions of women.
Last year, Paso Pacifico initiated a program to train rural community tour guides. When the program began, the young women in the group lacked the confidence to speak publicly, but over time they proved to be more active in training activities than their male counterparts. Today, the young women are excellent guides and are poised to build a successful eco-tourism business. Other rural women who own fledgling eco-tourism businesses such as hostels, private reserves, and restaurants are also eager to strengthen their entrepenuerial skills.
Paso Pacifico also provides training and materials for gardens that include fruit trees and diverse vegetable crops. Women have been the ones to take advantage of these efforts and have been successful enough that there is now an opportunity for excess crops to be sold for profit. Empowering women to earn income from sustainable agriculture will ensure benefits for the environment and communities.
To leverage our resources and ensure the continued success of our mission, we have begun to shift our focus to directly benefit women and strengthen their role in our programs. We have also begun to raise awareness that organizations and movements, at multiple political and social scales, benefit from the leadership and dedicated work of women.
As stewards of scarce natural resources, educators of a globally-conscious generation, and entrepreneurs driving local business, the women of rural Nicaragua play a pivotal role in the future of their region. We strengthen Nicaraguan women and girls as leaders in environmental sustainability by introducing new technology and market-based approaches in resource protection and sustainable development. We also build capacity through education and training in sustainable tourism, resource management, and organizational leadership.