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Muyumi Kanki girls w_Koya

WHAT
WE
DO.

PARTNERS
VERSUS
PROJECTS.

The Wichana Foundation has two channels for our work.  The first is our support of our Partner organizations.  Our support can include fundraising and administration of donations, technical advice, training and support, and project collaboration.  The second channel is our direct initiatives that we directly organize and administer.

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PARTNERS.

Mojandita Curubi Centro de Salud

Mojandita Curubi Health Center Wichana Partner

A small health clinic in one of Otavalo’s indigenous communities. With substantial support from the Foundation, this rural mountain clinic provides medicine, medical and dental care, including home visits, to many poor residents of this community and the surrounding area.

Muyumi Kanki Kichwa Cultural Center

Muyumi Kanki Kichwa Cultural Center Wichana Partner

An indigenous-led organization in Cotacachi focused on the revitalization of Kichwa culture and language through courses, workshops, research and advocacy.

An indigenous-led organization in Cotacachi that provides education and training to both local and international midwives and other medical professionals. Kinray Hub coordinates medical/ dental brigades and also works on sustainable agricultural research projects.

Kinray Hub

Kinray Hub Wichana Partner-min

Our Foundation provides a US tax deductible donation platform for this volunteer-based organization that distributes daily meals to dozens of the poorest elders from the city of Cotacachi and the surrounding rural indigenous communities.

Place of Hope (Sumak Paktarina Kuska)

Place of Hope Wichana Partner-min

Education for Ecuador

Education for Ecuador Wichana Partner-min

A nonprofit composed of a small group of Ecuadorians and foreign nationals committed to assisting underfunded schools in rural Ecuadorian villages in the Cotacachi area. The goal is to be in partnership with local teachers and administrators to identify and remove roadblocks to education.

It’s About
Children

It's About Children Wichana Partner-min

Our Foundation provides a US tax-deductible donation platform for this volunteer-based organization that provides scholarships to local students, enabling them to complete their high school education.

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PROJECTS.

Siona Community of Cuyabeno

Siona Community of Cuyabeno Wichana Project

Through periodic medical brigades, our Foundation provides medical and dental care to the Siona indigenous people who live in this isolated Amazon region of Ecuador.

Cultural
Collaboration Project

Cultural Collaboration Project Wichana-min

Located in our Cotacachi office, we provide a space for local artists and craftspeople to promote their work. This initiative energizes the cultural expression of local artists and economy.

A Kichwa runa cultural preservation and education project of the Foundation that respectfully empowers local indigenous elders, the runa taytamamakuna. Indigenous cultural activist and photographer Rafael Perez Anrango captured their images and stories in their own Kichwa language. The Kichwa-English-Spanish and English-only editions of the book are available on Amazon, in selected book stores, and at our office.

Imbabura Taytamamakuna Kawsay

Imbabura Taytamamakuna Kawsay Wichana Project2-min

Wichana provides small grants to Kichwa communities and other entities to support cultural celebrations, art and education. In addition to helping three communities with their solstice Raymi celebrations, we funded a public-art mural and workshops in traditional music and movement.

Cultural
Grants

Cultural Grants Wichana Project-min

Wichana hosts periodic workshops at our Cotacachi office and as companion events during exhibitions of our Imbabura Taytamamakuna Kawsay project. Topics have included “Weaving the Future: Community Workshop on Kichwa Textile Traditions”; ““Sapikuna” Documentary Film Screening and Kichwa Language Talking Circle”; and “Perspectives on the “Discovery of the Americas” and the Indigenous Resistance.”

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Wichana is working with young new volunteers who are helping us in many ways. These future community leaders are bringing skills, ideas and youthful energy to the table and we are happy to mentor them.

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Youth Workshops &
Volunteer Mentoring

Youth Workshops Wichana Project-min

Our
Mission.

Our mission is to support community-based programs in Ecuador that benefit
the health, education, and culture of community members.

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Our
Vision.

Wichana Foundation supports collaborative, local-led initiatives for the challenges facing communities, particularly women and indigenous groups in under-resourced areas. We are deeply committed to empowering and supporting local knowledge and talent to solve local challenges and bring forth new models of change and stability. Our Project Partners are committed, talented community organizations that demonstrate ingenuity, a collective mindset, and innovation. Wichana Foundation supports Project Partners by providing technical assistance, particularly in project management resources and fundraising platforms.

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PLEASE DONATE

Join us in our mission fundraising for community-based projects in rural indigenous communities in Ecuador.

Together, we can create opportunities and drive meaningful progress.

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