“Our values such as gender equity, equal opportunities, economic autonomy and independence, personal and collective growth will be sustained through promoting adobe and natural building…” — Felipa Nery González Ruiz
WASI Delegate: Nicaragua
Felipa Nery González Ruiz, originally from the rural community of Santa Teresa west of Condega, in the north of Nicaragua. She is a well respected leader in her community where she is immersed in the work of promoting local, cultural activities, using her skills as a tailor, carpenter, craftswoman, and educator. She is the President of Asociacion Mujeres Constructoras de Condega (AMCC), an organization that promotes economic empowerment for Nicaraguan women, strengthening their personal growth through vocational training and community advocacy. Leading reconstruction efforts in the the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, Felipa directed the construction of 11 homes as part of the housing project of the AMCC and Condega Women’s Network. As a natural builder, she is trained in adobe and in constructing stoves and traditional ovens, and has been actively teaching carpentry and construction and directing activities at AMCC for 14 years.
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WASI Delegate: Nicaragua
Helen Shears has worked with Asociacion Mujeres Constructoras de Condega for 17 years where she currently holds the role of Technical Coordinator and is responsible for project management, monitoring technical courses, and teacher training. She holds a Master’s degree in Education for Sustainability from South Bank University in London and participated in a program in Organizational Development in Nicarague from 2008-2010. A well-rounded tradeswoman, Helen is trained in technical carpentry and experienced in furniture making and home fixtures. Originally from London, Helen does translation work for the AMCC. Currently, she is coordinating and preparing to launch the 2012 courses in adobe construction that will initiate construction of classrooms that will be an integral part of the expansion and improvement of the organization. She currently lives with her partner on a farm where she enjoys experimenting with techniques in small-scale adobe construction, solar energy, irrigation systems, and water catchment.
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I am part of WASI because…
Felipa: I am a part of WASI because I would like to obtain more knowledge about natural building, and be able to capacitate other people so that they are able to build and implement these techniques, and diminish the environmental impact and proceted the environment.
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Why is alliance building and collaboration important to you, your community or in today’s world?
Felipa: Being part of WASI will contribute to Asociacion Mujeres Constructoras de Condega (AMCC)’s mission of supporting young women’s personal growth and professional and technical training, particular in building/non traditional trades, thus strengthening their participation in their communities. Also AMCC values such as gender equity, equal opportunities, economic autonomy and independence, personal and collective growth will be sustained through promoting adobe and natural building, and experimenting with natural materials and alternative technologies in the development of the AMCC new premises. This will encourage and enable exchange with similar interest groups and project AMCC locally, regionally and internationally.
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How do you imagine that your participation in WASI will benefit you and/or your community?
Felipa: I imagine that participating in WASI will benefit me and my community in that the knowledge acquired will be implemented and will strenghen the ideas that families and group have to protecting the environment. Green building is important for me, my community, and the whole world because as the years go by, humans have destroyed much of the environment, therefore the entire world has suffered transformation and wear, such as the ozone layer. In this way, using natural materials contributes to a green future, a green planet, making the most of what nature offers us.
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What are you doing now that connects to what WASI is about?
Currently we are preparing the space and materials on the ground in order to initiate the building of classrooms in February 2012, starting with the production of bricks and ending with the adobe construction design course, reaching youth and adults who want to participate in the course and searching for funds for the different stages of construction.
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What will you and your community build using the knowledge gained from WASI?
Helen: Within five years (depending on funding) the new facility of AMCC will be built, largely of enhanced adobe and other natural materials. The remodeling of the existing building was initiated in 2011 by the youth-led program “Star Youth in Self-Construction”. Other structures will be built through training courses as part of the curriculum of the School for Technical Training for Women and where the group goal is training young women. Offices, classrooms and workshops will provide better conditions and space for the organization. In addition, there will be offices and rooms for the DDSS nad RR, as well as green, recreational, and growing areas. It is expected that the site will be an innovative educational center for women and youth, attracting individuals and groups in locale, the country and internationally.
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Why is leadership by women important to you, your community, or the world?
The empowerment of women through apprenticeship or learning a nontraditional technical profession is an important contribution to strengthening female leadership, particularly in these fields, as it is calls into question gender roles in different societies. Being part of this work is essential for me, and for the AMCC because it opens up opportunities for women, principally at the local level, and are part of generations of women looking to change society for equality.
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Support
To support Felipa and Helen’s fundraising efforts to get to Patagonia and back, please click here.
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Find Out More…
To learn more about AAMCC please visit www.mujeresconstructoras.org
