Women's voices from the "Integrated Support and Accompaniment to Indigenous Peoples of South America's Chaco Region" – 2005-2008

Ermelinda Villa, Wichi leader from northern Argentina. Photo: CWS

Tri-National Program – Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay

"Women's community organizing deserves to be respected. We have the right to get organized, to our identity, to exercise freedom of expression, to be acknowledged and appreciated, because we are human beings and God created men and women with the same rights," says Ermelinda Villa, Wichi leader from the north of Argentina.

Ermelinda Villa is deeply involved in community organizing and women's participation in political issues. She was elected councilwoman for her community and has been helping to develop educational strategies that recognize and exercise Wichi women's rights.

Villa participated in the Second Indigenous Women Leaders Workshop, from November 21 to 25, 2006, supported by the Integrated Support and Accompanying Program to Indigenous People of the Gran Chaco Region. About 60 women representatives of the Tobas Quom, Wichis, Weenhayek, and Guarani communities participated in the workshop. Their participation was facilitated through five CWS regional partners--in Argentina: ENDEPA (National Team, Indigenous Pastoral Ministry of the Roman Catholic Church), FUNDAPAZ (Foundation for Development with Justice and Peace), and JUM (United Board of Mission); in Bolivia: CER-DET (Regional Study Center from Tarija); and in Paraguay: CIPAE (Churches Committee for Emergency Assistance).

Clara Quirino, Guarani community leader. Photo: CWS

Women participating in the workshop learned how to become better organized in claiming their rights, preserving their culture and language, and developing livelihood strategies (one of which is marketing handicrafts).

running girls
Gregoria Lopez shows off her handicrafts. Photo: CWS

Program participant Clara Quirino, 58, is president of the Guarani community where she lives, in Jujuy province, northwest Argentina. She teaches the Guarani language to 120 children from different communities, as well as handicrafts and the importance of natural medicines—all ways of preserving the knowledge of the elders.

Gregoria Lopez helps support herself and her family with her handicrafts. Lopez learned craftwork from her parents and grandparents.

Despite the difficulties she confronts, she keeps improving and working on her handicraft. Although Lopez gets paid very little, she continues to work to support her children, and preserve her community's traditions. Lopez and other women are passing their skills to their daughters and granddaughters, continuing an endless chain that will never be broken.

Partial support for this program comes from several CWS member denominations, including the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)/Week of Compassion, Presbyterian Church (USA)/Presbyterian Hunger Program, and United Methodist Committee On Relief/The United Methodist Church.

Learn more: CWS Chaco Initiative

Back to Latin America