“Mujer Montaña”, promoviendo sustentablemente la práctica del montañismo y deportes de aventura en mujeres Latinoamericanas.
“MUJER MONTAÑA”, PROMOVIENDO SUSTENTABLEMENTE LA PRÁCTICA DEL MONTAÑISMO Y DEPORTES DE AVENTURA EN MUJERES LATINOAMERICANAS.
Project Status: Since 2014 – 10 years
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Mujer Montaña is a non-profit, inclusive and unifying project. It aims to promote and facilitate good practices in trekking, rock climbing, mountaineering and adventure sports for women at different ages, beginners and professionals, focusing especially on environmental education, the appreciation of our natural resources and highlighting the effects of climate change in Latin America. Thus, the project creates spaces for the exchange and training in not only mountaineering and sports, but it also facilitates important social and cultural exchanges. In order to realise this aim, we established International Mountaineering and Climbing Encounters in different Latin American countries, looking for local hostesses with whom to share experiences and ascents in various cordilleras on the continent. The Encounters unite activities at various levels of difficulty, in addition to the realisation of educational exchange across the regions, as well as the sharing of different views on the environment, its preservation and care and generating proposals of immediate action for its protection.
HOW DOES IT CONTRIBUTE TO MOUNTAIN PROTECTION
Mujer Montaña coordinates and executes cultural and educational activities at an international, local and rural level, generating information and active awareness of the various mountain environments and the management of water resources in reference to climate change. This is facilitated through capacitation-building, informational talks, film festivals, cultural activities etc. with the aim to promote the practice of mountaineering and outdoor activities and the conservation of the environment where it takes place, as well as clean air and water for the generations to come. Mujer Montaña was invited to renowned international film festivals like BANFF (Banff Mountain Film Festival World) in Argentina, and INKAFEST in Bolivia, to present the project and speak about its contribution to and support of environmental causes.
COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND AUTHORITIES
We understand the importance of working together with the inhabitants and their natural environment and take their concepts and worldviews into consideration. In the course of the project’s lifetime, we have organised free capacity-building courses in the rural village of Peñas, La Paz, Bolivia. In addition, we have held presentations at the International Mountain and Environment Film Festival INKAFEST in Bolivia, in collaboration with The Bolivian Mountain Institute, where it was discussed topics such as climate change and its management in relation to the community, the mountaineer, and the urban Bolivian citizen. During the 2nd Encounter in Argentina there were held informative workshop to the children and community in general in the rural village of San Antonio de los Cobres. The basecamp was also an important setting to teach about respect for Mother Earth and her protection. In the latest (3rd) Encounter in Cusco, Peru, we hosted an open conference where various speakers presented topics such as glaciology and the current situation of the glaciers in the Peruvian Andes, their retreat and the future prospects for the next 50 years. Lastly, the project supports adventure races and their waste management in Bolivia and Argentina (the La Paz Marathon and the La Calchaqui Ultra Trail).
The project is supported by the Provincial Ministry of Human Rights in Salta, The Republic of Argentina, and the Vice Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. However, in the International Encounters and all of our other activities we collaborate with the local authorities such as municipalities, associations, and private initiatives, in order to r
GOING FURTHER THAN “BUSINESS AS USUAL”
Mujer Montaña is the first project of its kind in Latin America. In this continent the practice of mountaineering and its tight relation with environmental protection is not yet formally established. In this part of the world social habits and traditions are different, explaining partly why women have not had access to or education in, outdoor recreational activities like mountaineering. Our project is an example of best practice in the protection and conservation of the environment in the mountains because we concern ourselves that our actions are not causing any adverse effects on our surroundings. Some of our conscious actions are: avoiding the use of detergents; collecting and bringing back our waste, including toilet paper; using exclusively areas assigned for camping; understanding and respecting the bolting of new climbing routes and its impact on the surroundings; limiting the amount of participants to our Encounters; respecting local traditions and practices.
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
The International Encounters gather various nationalities. The capacity-building events in rural areas free of charge organised by Mujer Montaña in collaboration with Mountain clubs and public institutions, provide the local communities with alternatives and diversification of income generating activities. In the organisation of these proposed events we are supported by guides or skilled local people.
Read the complete description of this project.