Indigenous women leaders promote peace in Bolivia
Nine indigenous women are UN Community Volunteers in Bolivia. They promote peace and human rights in their communities through a dialogue on violence and conflict prevention. Gender equality is at the center of this dialogue.
Giovana Urquizo and Luisa Luna Choque are among the nine UN Community Volunteers. Giovana is from Chuquisaca Department in the center south of Bolivia and Luisa is from La Paz, the third most populous city and the seat of the government of Bolivia.
Weaving to keep tradition alive
Johanna Carranza is a UN Community Volunteer in Ecuador. At the age of 10, she learned the traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hat and now, at 24 she serves in UNESCO's Weaving for Sustainable Development project.
With her knowledge, Johanna motivates young people to keep tradition alive by teaching them the art of weaving. The toquilla straw hat is woven from fibers of palm trees characteristic of the Ecuadorian coast. Pile, Johanna's hometown, is a coastal community and the toquilla straw hat is part of cultural heritage.