The Paulo Freire Society is committed to the first-ever involvement of women in the care, collective management, and local administration of an 8,600-hectare mangrove forest.

The mangrove forest in question is an important blue carbon ecosystem that protects the coast from climate change  effects, minimizes the risk of natural disasters, and creates income opportunities for the population (fishing and tourism). The 14 associations that help manage the mangrove forest and especially their leadership, have so far been predominantly male. The interests and abilities of women and younger people have received little consideration.
This makes the involvement of women and young people all the more important. Their active participation helps, among other things, to distribute the economic opportunities associated with mangrove protection more widely. The project thus contributes significantly to the equal participation of women and young people.
 

• Development of a gender strategy to reduce gender inequalities
• Inclusion of the strategy in the statutes of 14 associations involved in the management of the mangrove forest
• Awareness-raising workshops for association representatives to introduce necessary changes, particularly gender-equitable and intergenerational leadership
• Establishment of a women's network for women who will be involved in the management of the mangrove forest in the future, and presentation of the women's network to the public

Further information on the offers available to the Colombian diaspora can be found below.