Silver Spring, Maryland--On October 29, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) launched a new project to empower 200 indigenous Mapuche women in rural communities in the Araucania Region of southern Chile.

The one-year project is entitled "Pu Mapuche Zomo, Ã'i Txemün-Chilkan Inapewma" in the Mapuche language, Mapudungun, which loosely translated means, "Following the Mapuche Women's Integral Development Dream". Through it, ADRA Chile is equipping women in the communities of Chol Chol, Vilcun, and Ercilla in the Araucania Region with the necessary tools to help them achieve their educational goals, learn basic numeracy and literacy skills, gain livelihood skills in wool production, poultry raising, horticulture and cooking, and also raise awareness of their rights as women.

"A woman that cannot read, write, or do simple arithmetic cannot improve her standard of living, because she does not have the necessary tools to change her environment," said Milton Alaña, country director for ADRA Chile. "This project will give women a sense of dignity and improve their social development in their communities."

Because many Mapuche women are severely marginalized, they lack educational opportunities and understanding of their civil rights. For this reason, project beneficiaries will be enrolled in a program geared to improve their self-esteem, raise their awareness on issues relating to domestic and gender violence, and teach them about gender equality and women empowerment.

"The development of this project will have a great impact on the communities in this region," said Alaña.

To help participants reach their educational and vocational goals, ADRA has signed an agreement with five entities, including the Ministry of Education, the National Service of Training and Employment (SENCE), the National Corporation for Indigenous Development (CONADI), the National Service for Women (SERNAM), and Forestal Mininco, one of Chile's largest producers of wood and paper products.

Through this partnership, targeted beneficiaries will receive educational materials, free certification, and academic scholarships. Participants will also benefit from skill-based training modules, and gain technical knowledge regarding their vocational abilities, as well as their rights as women. In addition, ADRA's partners will provide financial support for project activities, and ensure that the program is disseminated into occupational networks, opening up pathways for new jobs.

ADRA is focusing this project in an area of Chile with a large Mapuche population, Since pre-Columbian times, the Mapuche have thrived in the lands they historically inhabited in Central and Southern Chile and Argentina. However, in recent decades economic and social conditions for these indigenous communities have not improved in comparison to the rest of Chilean society. This has resulted in higher rates of poverty, infant mortality, unemployment, and illiteracy.

"That is why this project is so important. By the end, these women will have gained the skills necessary to increase their household incomes, creating opportunities for a better future both for themselves and their families," added Alaña. "It will also give them a sense of dignity."

ADRA has been working in Chile since 1958 primarily in emergency management, education, economic development, women empowerment, and the protection of vulnerable children's rights.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

Author: Nadia McGill

Media Contact: John Torres, Senior Public Relations Manager, ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6357 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org