Double fundraiser on World Humanitarian Day

On 19.8. was World Humanitarian Day (WHD), World Humanitarian Day. On this day, all those who lost their lives in a humanitarian aid operation should be remembered. The day originated in Baghdad, Iraq. On August 19, 2003, 22 humanitarian workers were killed in a bomb attack. Five years after the attack, a resolution was passed declaring August 19 World Humanitarian Day. Since then, WHD has focused on one theme each year, bringing the humanitarian field together to work for the well-being and dignity of people and the safety of humanitarian workers. The initiative seeks to encourage leaders to take meaningful protective action for the world's most vulnerable people. In 2021 “climate” was the topic. World Humanitarian Day is an initiative of the United Nations.

On the occasion of the WHD we had thought of something special. A double donation campaign with which we put together a package of PCs, printers, notebooks, books and pens for the youth of the indigenous community Sacha Waysa in Ecuador. We have doubled every donation you made to the WHD in order to get an even higher donation amount. We are also working with Sacha Waysa on a new project.

So we also used the World Humanitarian Day to offer you our Reforestation project with YAKUM bring closer. In addition, we did a LIVE with YAKUM founder Nick on August 17th, which you can read in our Instagram feed find and which we summarize for you here in the article. In this blog post we give you the most important insights into our new heart project - in which you can also participate directly by making a donation!

PARTNERSHIP GUYA WITH THE YAKUM FOUNDATION

Our latest project is a partnership with YAKUM , a non-profit foundation from Ecuador. Right from the start you have supported the indigenous farmers in Ecuador and the preservation of the Amazon rainforest by buying our products. With the project and the partnership with YAKUM, we are now going one step further and reforesting cleared areas “self” in the sense of a permaculture. The first project includes 10 hectares of land, 10,000 plants and 100 different native species to be planted.

Nick from London is the founder and director of YAKUM. On YouTube and im together Instagram live he gave us a detailed insight into the work of YAKUM on the occasion of the WHD, which we summarize again in detail below:

THE STORY OF YAKUM AND FOUNDER NICK

INick is actually a biologist and also has a background in education. It all started for YAKUM when Nick wanted to learn more about the flora of the Amazon and about reforestation. He wanted to know what the different plants are useful for and how they can be used. Among other things, he spent 6 months in an indigenous Kichwa community near the Ecuadorian city of Tena, which is also known as the “gateway to the rainforest”, and traveled a lot in this area. He met some members of the indigenous communities and was able to learn a lot about the plants, fruits, nuts, etc. that the local communities work with.

The very first plant nursery was then in the municipality of Sacha Waysa, where “our” reforestation project also takes place. After this first reforestation, YAKUM has since set up 20 more in different areas of the region. A 40,000 tree reforestation project has just been completed in the Sacha Waysa area.

For almost four years now, YAKUM has been working with indigenous groups (Kichwa, Siekopai, Cofán, Shuar) to reforest the Amazon forests. The team around YAKUM is growing happily, meanwhile there are already 20 employees. The staff is a colorful mix of national, international and local people, including some proven experts in various relevant fields. Many younger members of the congregation also lend a hand. In addition, YAKUM is now getting more and more support - such as from GUYA.

YAKUM PROJECTS BENEFIT THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

The main beneficiaries of the projects are the families in the communities, to whom the plants are given out to them after they have been raised. The projects are well received by the communities and there is also demand for them. In fact, the process - in contrast to that of many other NGOs - is very often such that inquiries about projects come from the communities and YAKUM then supports them. The impetus often comes from the communities themselves, which of course represents a completely different basis for cooperation.

For example, recently there was a request from a group of women asking for the reforestation of plant species that provide materials for making handicrafts such as baskets, necklaces or bracelets, which the group can then distribute to tourists.

In the next few months, the focus should be on self-sufficiency, i.e. on planting fruit and nut trees or anything that provides important food. Another focus is the settlement of endangered wood species such as mahogany or cedar.

YAKUM's work also has an important educational aspect. The younger members of the community should be given the increasingly lost knowledge of the older ones, what the different plant species are good for, why they are important and how reforestation works. The basis for self-sufficiency for the communities in many areas.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GUAYUSA AND CLIMATE-FRIENDLY GROWING?

CLIMATE FRIENDLY CULTIVATION OF GUAYUSA

FOCUS ON BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Important for the projects - and also a difference to some others - is the great variety of plants with which afforestation is carried out. Because both the animal and plant world can be served by this biodiversity as well as the commercial needs of the communities. The more biodiversity, the better. As long as the trees are useful to everyone.

What also makes the projects special is that the trees are not only planted, but their growth process is monitored over the years to ensure that something really grows. If you don't do this, there is a very high risk that you will lose many of the plants you have planted. The seeds therefore germinate in the nurseries and will then be taken to the field as small plants. Further maintenance is carried out by constantly cutting grass free. This usually happens as part of a Minga*.

"A minga is something like a get-together for community members to eat, drink and talk about what needs to be done. That's the way things work in Ecuador. That's how they really work. First of all planning, that doesn't work that way. The plans are drawn up on the Mingas and implemented directly."

NICK ABOUT “OUR” REFORESTATION PROJECT

The joint project by GUYA and YAKUM is not just about Guaysua. Rather, the communities are supported in gaining sovereignty in various areas - such as cultural, medical, nutritional or even commercial.

YAKUM has been working in Sacha Waysa on the reforestation of a former pasture area of ​​about 5 hectares for three years. The area actually belonged to the Kichwa but was stolen by the church, missionaries and local authorities. The community is now striving to reforest the area. The surrounding communities are also interested in the reforestation and so the project is now expanding. Even the producer from whom we buy our Guayusa is integrated into the project - YAKUM takes the organic compost from our producer and processes it further.

Part of the cleared area has already been processed. In total, there are over 100 species, some of which are very interesting and rare, that are planted there. Lots of fruits, but also some species that can be used for crafts. The area should even become a kind of seed bank because so many interesting plants are integrated - which in turn should also develop into a community business. However, the floor is partly really bad, broken and needs a pretty radical floor treatment. So there is still a lot to be done here, a large part of the area is still open - and that's where GUYA comes into play...

GUYA DOUBLE FUNDRAISER ON WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY

In principle, donations generated by GUYA flow to YAKUM every three months. YAKUM decides what happens to the money. The money raised by the WHD will be used to buy office and building materials for the young people so that they can work independently of the adults. This youth group is very motivated and committed to all the reforestation projects. They want to set up their own office for their group, where they can work separately from the adults. The impulse came directly from the community.

GUYA REFORESTATION PROJECT IN ECUADOR - HOW TO PARTICIPATE

What we take for granted in this country is not in Ecuador. The prices for electronic devices alone are around 2 to 3 times more expensive there, making it impossible for many to be able to afford such things. ⁠If you bought Guayusa at WHD, you could make a donation that went 100% to YAKUM. We have doubled the donation amount! If you missed the WHD, you still have the option to make an additional donation during the checkout process with every purchase.

If you currently still have enough Guayusa at home, you can of course also donate by using our PAYPAL donation account make your heart's contribution. Please also read our other post, in which we tell you more about this reforestation project tell.

We will continue to report on the progress of the campaign and of course keep you up to date with pictures and videos. We look forward to being able to implement the project together with you. Feel free to share our Instagram posts about the project and that YouTube video .