Page 13 - The Americas

JULIA EGUIA
ERNESTINA VALERIANO
GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITIES
e World Expeditions Foundation (WEF) raises funds for grass-roots community development projects in impoverished communities around the world. Funds are directed to community development projects that aim to improve access to education, and we invite travellers to work alongside volunteers from the local community to help complete the project. Read more about our Huilloc Healthy Cook Stove Project on page 36. In 2017, WEF raised funds to purchase and deliver 40 solar lamps to communities dotted across the Andes that are o the electricity
grid, and bringing light into homes. By the end of 2017, WEF, with assistance from World Nomads’ Footprints Network, will fund the installation of 42 healthy cook stoves into the homes of Quechuan families in Peru. e traditional open re stoves currently in place use solid fuels (wood, coal and dung) and produce high levels of toxic household air pollution that cause a range of health issues, including low birth weight in babies, pneumonia
in children, pulmonary disease and bronchitis.
EMPOWERING WOMEN
Traditionally the trekking industry has been the domain of men. Guides, assistant guides, kitchen crew and porter roles have long been lled predominantly by men. But the tides are turning as more women look to the great outdoors to become female guides in preference to o ce jobs. World Expeditions encourages our local partners across the Americas to employ female guides. In Peru we have Ernestina Valeriano leading our groups and in Patagonia we have Julia Eguia. Our aim, moving forward, is to have more female crew employed in the eld.
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