Leading Advocate for Women’s Rights

Amazonia Expeditions has been the leading advocate for women’s rights in the upper Amazon basin since the early 1980’s. In an effort to improve equality in the workforce, we were the first company to hire and train native women to work as guides and administrators in positions equal to men. When we first started these efforts, such a practice was virtual heresy in Iquitos, Peru.   In addition to our employment practices, lodge owner Dolly Beaver has spent decades working to empower and improve the lives of the indigenous women of the Tahuayo River basin. Listening to their concerns and problems, Dolly incorporated a not for profit foundation, Angels of the Amazon, which built and helps fund a fine rural clinic, and has provided children with educational opportunity far beyond the elementary school level support the government was providing.   Dolly further helped the organize the native women into an economic collaborative,

We were the first company to hire and train native women to work as guides and administrators in positions equal to men. When we started in the early 1980s, such a practice was virtual heresy in Iquitos, Peru.

Empowering the Indigenous Women

In addition to our employment practices, lodge owner Dolly Beaver has spent decades working to empower and improve the lives of the indigenous women of the Tahuayo River basin. Listening to their concerns and problems, Dolly incorporated a not for profit foundation, Angels of the Amazon, which built and helps fund a fine rural clinic, and has provided children with educational opportunity far beyond the elementary school level the government was providing.

Dolly further helped the organize the native women into an economic collaborative, called Asociacion Manos Amazonica. The collaborative generates work and cash income while preserving traditional arts and crafts. Empowering women through the beauty of their art, we helped create women leaders who have become a political force in their communities. The women artisans use renewable resources, organic plant, and dyes from the forest, this way benefiting conservation efforts in the ACRCTT reserve. Their art creations are sold to tourists and other organizations. As results of this effort, the women have gained respect, political voice, and financial independence. In 2016 the Angels foundation constructed a fine building in the largest village of the upper Tahuayo River, a center for the women to train, work, socialize and organize.

We know it all too well that if women are given a chance they will do their part to help to make a better world for all, so this is no different here. 

 

Paul Beaver, Ph.D.
President and Founder of Amazonia Expeditions