The Changing Climate of Empowerment

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Annual Report 2010

"IcometoallofthecommunitymeetingsandworkshopsbecauseI'mlearninghowtomaintainmywatersystem,andwecanseewithourowneyeshowtheprojectisgoing."‐Maria,NuevoParaiso

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SupportingCommunityProjects In 2010, Amazon Partnerships Foundation made significant progress toward increasing awareness about climate change by developing community relationships and empowering indigenous communities to bring their conservation projects to fruition. Our unique model focuses not on community participation but ownership, increasing the likelihood that communities will sustain their own results.

PromotingEnvironmentalLeadership Raising awareness about the climate crisis is the first step toward raising a new generation of local environmental leaders, who will need even greater skills and creativity than their predecessors. In 2010, we launched a pilot environmental curriculum project, conducted public forums about climate change featuring our ground-breaking documentary Life and Breath, and helped connect local youth with students from the U.S. so all could gain a better understanding of why we must protect the Amazon.

MoreAboutOurInnovativeModelAttheinvitationofcommunities,webeginwithapresentationofourdocumentaryLifeandBreath,whichchroniclesKichwacommunities'concernsandsolutionsforaddressingclimatechangeaswellasthebasicsciencebehindtheissue.Weusethedocumentarytocatalyzeadiscussionamongcommunitymembersabouttheclimatecrisisanditsunderlyingproblem:howtoprotectnaturalresourcesandsatisfyurgenthumanneedsforeconomicopportunity,betterhealth,andeducation.Infollowupworkshops,weteachcommunitymembershowtoassesstheirassets,problems,andideas,thendesignprojectproposalsthatreflecttheirpriorities.Forwinningproposals,weprovideupto$2,000infinancialsupportplusoneyearofintensiveworkshopsinprojectimplementationandevaluation,duringwhichweteachcommunitieshowtocompleteprojectplans,recordandanalyzedata,andmeasureprogresstowardbenchmarkstheyset,andtheirownresultsqualifythemforfollow‐onfunding.

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Results

We conducted more than 60 workshops on project planning and implementation for 11 communities, seven of which submitted winning proposals for rainwater catchment systems, reforestation, composting toilets, and organic cacao cultivation. Four year-long projects impacting approximately 350 men, women, and children began in summer of 2010: 52 families installed rainwater catchment systems which provide clean drinking water without impacting fragile ecosystems 4 families and 1 school built composting toilets, which prevent groundwater contamination, prevent emission of methane gas, and produce organic compost Communities planted 260 native hardwoods, fruit trees, and bamboo More than 12,000 viewers in Ecuador saw Life and Breath through community

presentations, public forums, and educational events. Filmed in Kichwa with English and Spanish subtitles, our documentary has been included in national teacher training programs and was selected for the Venice, California Green Screen Environmental Film Festival. Teachers from eight high schools participated in our pilot environmental curriculum program reaching approximately 200 students. We also coordinated with OneWorld Classrooms to help 50 elementary school students in the U.S. and the Ecuadorian Amazon learn more about each others' culture and environment through video conferencing and art exchanges. LessonsLearned Because we work continuously with communities, our understanding of the challenges and opportunities is constantly evolving. In 2010 we noted the positive impact a strong sense of community can have on the outcome of a project. The more families believed that their individual success hinged on the success of the entire project, the higher the rates of workshop attendance and follow up. Communities that did not have a strong group identity did not tend to participate as actively. To help strengthen community cohesion, we have implemented new tools and activities for 2011 to help communities recognize the value in collaboration for everyone.

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LookingForward At the end of 2010, our board approved three new projects to run through 2011. Through these projects, 32 families will install rainwater catchment systems and plant 160 trees, and 36 men and women will receive training in organic cacao production and build three greenhouses. We will evaluate and expand our environmental curriculum program and continue building institutional partnerships to extend our reach.

"Isaythankyouathousandtimesforthisrainwater

catchmentsystem.Before,Ididn'thaveanywateronmy

farm,andnowIdo.Thisprojecthashelpedmesomuch."

‐Marcelina,SanPedrodeChimbiyacu

Photos:Pg1:DistributingtreesinShiwaYacu,buildingcompostingtoiletsinPalmaAmazónica,theYumbofamilywiththeirrainwatercatchmentsysteminCampanaCocha(credit:DavidBarnes),floraofTamiaYuraforestreserve.Pg2:CacaoworkshopinCanambo,videopresentationinSinchiRuna.Pg3:Grefa‐Yumbofamilyandtheircompostingtoilet.Pg4:RainwatercatchmentsysteminNuevoParaíso.

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FinancialDatafor2010 Total Income: $60,615 Total Operating Expenses: $55,825 Total Operating Income: $4,790 End of Year Net Assets: $9,716

SpecialRecognitionofour2010MajorDonors: Memisa Global Fund for Community Foundations Comité Ecumenico/Fondo Ágil Anonymous family foundation (California) German Development Cooperation Stella Klemperer Regina Mushabac and Fritz Klemperer Rahul Joshi and Patricia Bowman Susan King

2010 EXPENSES

2010 INCOME

Board of Directors (Served in 2010) Susan King, Co-Chair Sue Sivyer, Co-Chair Stella Klemperer, Treasurer Rahul Joshi, Secretary Patricia Bowman, Member Mary Fifield, Founder & Executive Director