Voices from
the Indigenous Territories
  • Rosemary Álvarez
  • 21.09.2021
We work towards conscious, regenerative change. These are some of the testimonies and personal stories of our collective impact.
Felipe fishing on the river during solar project implementation in spring 2017
“I am so happy and proud about our solar system. I was always worried about how much noise the generator makes, and that we cannot afford to buy enough gasoline.”
Felipe Enquire
32, from Tzapino, a Waroani Community

“Now, when the sun sets, we can just turn on the light powered by our solar system and see what's in the dark - with no noise and no pollution. We used to make handicrafts to buy gasoline. Now we can meet other needs. We can buy books for our children to go to school, and they can use the light to do their homework and study at night. If someone is sick, we can pay to fly them to a hospital or use the gas to take them by canoe to see a doctor. Thank you so much for your support!”

Karina with her daughter walking the in the jungle around her community
“I am Karina, from Acaro, and I am so proud to call Acaro my home. I have two daughters (...). I am worried about our nature, our land, our home. We don‘t want people to damage it.”
Karina Ahua
23, from Acaro, a Waorani community

“The moment the oil companies arrive, they damage and pollute the rivers, nature, trees, (...). We can’t allow that anymore. I am very thankful for the support of the solar project. More so, I am grateful for my daughters and the benefit it brings to the whole community. Your support has provided something we desperately need in the community. For me, and for us, it is something really special. Now that we have solar systems that give us access to electricity, I am very happy. Also for the wellbeing of my daughters, because they are going to be able to walk safely at night. And for my daughters’ studies, I am very happy for that. What you have given us is a treasure.”

Ore in his dugout canoe crossing to the other side of the river
Ore with his wife in front of their house in Gomataon
( 1 ) Ore in his dugout canoe crossing to the other side of the river
( 2 ) Ore with his wife in front of their house in Gomataon
“My name is Ore Nenquimo. First of all, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Many years ago, they [the oil companies] always promised us support, but we never got any.”
Ore Nenquimo
58, from Gomataon, a Waorani community

“And now that I am old and have many grandchildren, I can finally see that my dream is coming true and we are getting light, something I have longed for so long. I thank the Love For Life team very much for their support and for thinking and acting above and beyond, not like the oil companies and other people who always give us false promises. I don't know how to say it, but the only thing I can and want to say is thank you, thank you, thank you - thank you so much!

I no longer need a flashlight to give out food at night. I don't need candles anymore. Now that we have light, I will use it to make our traditional handicrafts in the evening. There are no words to express our gratitude. I am very happy, very excited. I also hope that you will install solar panels in many other communities so that people can be as happy as I am now. I feel very honored to receive this support. Thank you very much for everything!I am very committed to protecting our flora and fauna and not allowing the deforestation of the forests we live in. I don't like it when people exploit our land, when they kill wild animals for meat to sell. I don't like it because if we kill animals and exploit nature today, we are destroying the basis of life for future generations and allowing entire species to become extinct.

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Since my childhood, we have been defending our ancestral territories, just like my father and grandfather. And now, with your support, we can better defend ourselves. I will always fight from the jungle to protect the rainforest.

I don't like the noise the companies make when they come with their helicopters to mine and extract oil. They come and the monkeys, all the animals flee. I love your project because it does not contaminate and pollute the environment, which is what the mining companies do.

I greet all your friends, brothers and sisters of all colors, from different countries, and thank you for your support.”

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Omanca on the way out of the jungle to her house
“First of all, I would like to thank the team of women and men. Thanks to all the technicians of different nationalities.”
Omanca Enqueri
51, from Gomataon, a Waorani community

“I would also like to thank the people who came from other countries and thought of us. I have no words to express how happy I am to receive this support. In the past, we were always given empty promises. Now, through you, the support has materialized. When the moon shone brightly, there was light; when it did not, there was no light and we could see nothing. We lived here in the jungle and could do nothing about it. Until now, until you came and saw our need. What I love about my home is the nature, the pristine flora and fauna, the air, the trees, the fish, that there is no noise here, just the whisper of the wind. I love our home because of these things. In our community we preserve nature, we protect wild animals and we only hunt what is really necessary for survival.”

Roveyro during solar project implemenation in Tzapino in spring 2017
“I am very happy to be part of this project, to be a technician and to support my community and also to support other communities.”
Roveyro Criollo Lucitante
24, solar technician from Sábalo, a A'i Cofán community

“I think it's something great for the Indigenous nationalities of Ecuador (...) it's an immense support for families that have so many needs. I am very happy and I hope you will continue to support other communities and people of other nationalities because they have the same needs. This work and support to the nationalities is great, the support is done with love and I think the people also receive it with a lot of affection. I hope you will continue to do this with everyone, with the people of Ecuador who are in need, but also with people from all over the world.”

Hannia enjoying light for the first time in her kitchen in the Talamanca rainforest
“To cook, I would need a flashlight or candles, but now with these solar systems, there are so many more possibilities!”
Hannia García
26, from Orchico, a Cebécar community

“I don't have to rush to finish cooking and all the chores before it gets dark. Now it doesn't matter if it's 7 or 8 at night, I can cook and we can eat more easily. My son can play safely and do his homework without rushing.”

Lisbeth in her house deep in the jungle mountains of the Talamanca rainforest
“My children used to do their homework and schoolwork by candlelight, which is very difficult.”
Lisbeth Fernández
39, from Orchico, a Cabécar community

“The paper would get dirty or burned and they would get lower grades. I could see that my children were trying very hard, but just because of the lack of electricity, they could not meet the school requirements. So I am very grateful for the installation of this light that comes from the sun. Now I don't have to worry about using candles, which often cause dangerous fires.”

Jeffry installing the electrical cabinet during project implementation in Orochico, 2019
“Every day, the families walk for many hours to provide for their lives. To visit them, we travel for hours, crossing dangerous rivers, slopes and muddy trails. We walk through the territory of dangerous animals like jaguars or mountain tigers.”
Jeffry Torres
24, Local Solar Program Coordinator, Talamanca, Costa Rica

“We walk for hours in heavy rain. Then, when you least expect it, the rain stops and the sky opens up to allow the sun to shine, bringing unbearable heat deep into the dense jungle mountains. Sometimes it is the other way around, we start walking in the burning sun and heat, we sweat a lot and suddenly the sky turns dark and the rain hits hard. Climbs, descents, hill after hill: every step we take is an immense effort. When we reach the other side of a deep valley, we feel good and accomplished. In the end, after the fatigue, mud and all the obstacles we have to go through, it becomes an incredible satisfaction when we finally reach our destination. The best moment is when we see all the smiling and happy faces of the families when they are able to see because of the light that illuminates the dark night.”

Evelyn with her family in her kitchen illuminated by her solar system
“Now in the evening, when I have to do my handicrafts or sew my clothes, I can just do it ... and there is no problem anymore. We can't say it's late and we can't do anything because now we have light.”
Evelyn Sixtro
53, from Arenal, a Cabécar community

“Before [we had solar home systems], we used a burner, and whenever the wind blew, the light would go out, and if we didn't have kerosene, we had to buy batteries and use them with flashlights. Sometimes it was difficult [to take care of] the children and the sick. We couldn't live very well because we don't have money to buy batteries, flashlights or kerosene. Sometimes, when we had nothing, we had to stay in the dark. This is how we lived for a long time.”