Pangea welcomes Green Community Volunteers (GCV) as one of our new partners in Southeast Asia. This organization was founded in 2009, and operates in the Xiangkhouang Province, northeast of Laos. GCV is the only local group in Laos that has been founded and run by indigenous women, and it seeks to empower communities on environmental issues such as biodiversity preservation through art and cultural exchanges. Earth Rights International first introduced Pangea to the work of GCV. Pangea Giving will support the Community Food Forest Project in the Ngoi district, Luang Prabang province. This project aims to help preserve biodiversity while increasing food...[ Read More ]

Foto Source: Oxfam America We are excited to begin our work with the Cambodian Indigenous Women Association (CIWA), one of our newest partners in the Southeast Asia region. This organization was recommended to Pangea by Women Peace Makers, one of our longtime partners. CIWA was founded in 2019 at the initiative of 37 indigenous women and 7 men, as an organization committed to gender equity and the protection of fundamental rights of indigenous women. Their goal is building the capacity of indigenous women to lead and take ownership of development processes in Cambodian indigenous communities and society at large. Pangea...[ Read More ]

Dear Partners and Advisors, Ofelia Aguilar Hernández –MUSOR, Mexico Wendo Aszed –Dandelion Africa, Kenya Ms. Suyheang Kry –Women Peace Makers, Cambodia Miriam Soledad López Bautista­ –UNOSJO, Mexico Ruth Naliaka –Ufanisi Women Group, Kenya Caroline Odera –Women in Sustainable Enterprises, Kenya Elvia Raquec –Women’s Justice Initiative, Guatemala Hilda Vázquez –Asociación Comunidad la Esperanza, Guatemala And Women leaders in Myanmar In celebration of International Women’s Day, March 8th, Pangea’s Board of Directors is proud to honor you as outstanding women leaders. We are inspired by your commitment to address critical women’s issues. Your work provides access to quality education, sexual and reproductive rights, a life free...[ Read More ]

Our partner Taa’Pi’t works with indigenous families in the Lake Atitlán region of Guatemala to reintroduce traditional foods, cooking techniques, and agricultural practices based on Ru Kuuyx qa Way qa Kuyaa, the Mayan expression for directing recognition, acceptance and gratitude to the vital energy that arrives in each home in the form of seeds, vegetables, fruits, and liquids. Here are the stories of Julia and Manuel, beneficiaries of Taa’ Pi’t projects. My name is Manuel Criado. Nowadays, I consider there are many problems because we feed ourselves inadequately. The children only want to eat sweet things and cereals in the...[ Read More ]

The Southeast Asia Pod is monitoring the situation in Myanmar. We have been in contact directly with one of our Partners and with some US-based NGOs (Partners Asia, Shanta Foundation, and EarthRights International) that have connections to our Partners.  Our two grantees in Myanmar are having different experiences as they try to carry out their work under the military junta.  The situation with our Partners We recently held a Zoom meeting with one partner, who is doing village development work. They maintain a low profile in the communities they serve and believe that their development work is non-political and not...[ Read More ]

Leer en español Our new pod advisors program was launched recently with three experienced alumni partners who are sharing their perspectives with us. We’re pleased to introduce Elvia Raquec, our first advisor. Stay tuned in the coming months for profiles on our other two advisors, Joshua Machinga and Wendo Aszed. Elvia Raquec is the program director for Women’s Justice Initiative (WJI), from which she oversees an array of women’s rights programs in indigenous Guatemalan communities. She has broad experience working in rural communities on projects related to human rights, reproductive health, local development, among other issues, all of them aligned...[ Read More ]

Ms. Fong Chompey​ is one of the inspiring women of Weaving Women Leadership for Change (WWLC), a Women Peace Makers' program that supports emerging women leaders in civil society in Cambodia. The program provides the tools and space for these women to come together to learn, explore, inspire, celebrate and share about themselves and their leadership challenges. Ms. Chompey currently serves as the deputy head of Cambodia Indigenous Women Working Group (CIWWG). She belongs to the Jarai indigenous group, located in Ratanakiri, Cambodia. She works mainly on women's rights and environmental issues through advocacy, research, facilitation, and mobilization of Indigenous...[ Read More ]

Many of the communities we support have suffered from the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns that have closed economies and school systems. Our partners have been responding to address the evolving needs of these communities. Taa'Pi't, our partner based in San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala, has started offering educational programs on nutrition and health through local television programs to reach families social distancing at home. The programs are offered in Spanish and the local language, Maya Tzutujil. You can read about the programs in the July newsletter from Taa'Pi't Director Juan Manuel, which we share below. (muchisimos gracias to Pangea member...[ Read More ]

We are deeply saddened by the tragic and violent murder of Domingo Choc Che, Mayan spiritual guide in San Luis, Petén, Guatemala. Pangea is committed to raising the voices of indigenous people in Guatemala and around the world. The following is a statement from our friends at EDUCA Oaxaca concerning the lynching and murder of Domingo Choc Che. You can read the original statement in Spanish here. Our thanks to Kelly Ventura for the translation. Domingo Choc Che, member of the Association of Mayan Spiritual Guides, was lynched by a mob that accused him of practicing acts of witchcraft in...[ Read More ]

Dear members and friends, As I prepare this monthly message to you, first and foremost on my mind is the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police, and the expressions of outrage it has sparked against racism and inequality in our country. I am inspired by the thousands of people here in Seattle and across our nation who are peacefully protesting and demanding change. It is difficult to witness trauma and suffering whether it is in our partners’ countries or here at home. Yet we cannot ignore the reality of what Black Americans experience every...[ Read More ]