Meet Lorgia Juan de Dios Parallo: Community Leader in Peru
2 July 2003
After participating in a training program for indigenous women in Bolivia, Lorgia Juan de Dios Parallo returned home to mobilize and train women in Peru to understand their rights and potential.
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| Lorgia Juan de Dios Parallo: Helping women gain an equal footing with men on community decisions, a re-awakening of their traditional roles. By: Chris Hufstader/Oxfam |
The highlands of Ayacucho, Peru, are a tough place to make a living. The climate alternates between too wet and too dry, and the altitude prevents raising most crops other than potatoes. Centuries of discrimination, poverty, and even war limit opportunities for the indigenous people who inhabit the region. They have few options but to raise alpaca and llama, and struggle to find markets for their wool and meat.
As in many impoverished areas of the world, women bear a heavy burden. With men migrating in search of work or traveling to buy supplies, women manage virtually all household affairs. They care for their families, and manage their herds to prevent overgrazing. Despite their crucial role in keeping their families and communities together, women are seldom considered local leaders.
Oxfam America is funding projects that are changing these realities, by helping people get the training they need to increase their income while maintaining their culture. Part of this training involves revival of traditional practices that place women on an equal footing with men.
Oxfam's partner organization Association for the Promotion of Development (PRODES) is training people in highland communities in the best ways to mange their herds, and improve their meat and wool production. One of their trainers is Lorgia Juan de Dios Parallo, 32, who participated in a training program for indigenous women in Bolivia. "It was the first time I saw strong, indigenous people working together in their communities–men, women, and young people–it was a great example. The women participate as leaders, and you could really see how this has strengthened their communities." When Lorgia returned, she mobilized women and trained them in understanding their rights and their potential. "I told them that we have equal rights, and have to work with men in making decisions in the community." Now she says women are going to meetings, speaking out, and claiming their right to play a role in fighting poverty, which they never did before.
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| Women in the highlands of Ayacucho have moved beyond their roles as family care givers, and now share in responsibilities for raising alpaca and managing pastures to prevent overgrazing. This woman recently constructed stone-walled corals in which she planted special grasses for her alpaca, which will improve their health. |
One key area where things are changing for women is in training. Women are now demanding the same training opportunities as men. In the past it was always assumed that men would participate in training opportunities. "The women want their families to overcome poverty and misery, and they want to be more involved in doing this," Lorgia says.
Lorgia herself has benefited from these opportunities and is helping others to do the same. "I know how to take care of my alpacas. If I were not trained in how to do this I would not know the best way to sell my wool. It's been very useful to me, and I am teaching everyone else how to help the animals overcome malnutrition in the dry season. Life is a little better now but still not that good. But we know that we are just starting the process and that in the end we will be better off."
