Full project details: https://www.aboutfacemusik.co.uk/los-bos

The Wampis are a very special community, they are the first indigenous people in Peru to create their own autonomous government to protect their ancestral territory of 1.3 million hectares of rainforest from loggers and deforesters. The Wampis have developed a highly developed and specialised understanding of rainforest ecology and the complex flora/fauna for millennia, and operate with a cultural obligation to eliminate deforestation and maintain the forest with in balance with all living things. The Wampis also advocate an inclusive and conscientious ethic, which purveys gender equality and respect, the empowerment of youth and a sustainable outlook on agriculture.

Following a visit to Guyabal to spend time in the community, I found serious socio-ecological issues that may jeopardise their cultural attachment to rainforest conservation. Most members of the community have no access to clean drinking water so most hydration is from sugar cane and fermented drinks with some alcohol content to enable it safe to drink; the community cannot afford the bottled water. The lack of free easily accessible water has an affect on their ability to head deeper into the rainforest to hunt and harvest fruit, this has had an effect on the health of the community including the children, many of them suffer from anaemia. Secondarily, the community receive funding for just 1 teacher from the Peruvian government, but require 5. Consequently one secondary school teacher has now not been paid for 4 months.

The Wampis are so kind but so very poor and exploited, the Wampis are enduring allot of hardship but In spite of this they are warm, generous and incredibly connected to the natural environment, probably more than we could every imagine.

During the trip, I was informed that the government funding the Wampis receive for preserving the rainforest is scheduled to end this year, this has lead to great concern in the community of how to generate income without exploiting of the natural resources the Wampis have been protecting for hundreds of years.

The money raised will be used to assist the Wampis to develop fresh water infrastructure, and to help build a technical school to teach traditional Wampis techniques of weaving, instrument making and crafts; the retention of Wampis cultural identity and ancestral knowledge is vital to the preservation of a depleting rainforest. Providing guidance to develop Guyabal into a self-sustaining community so they can keep protecting the forest, whilst protecting their beautiful culture of song and harmony in nature.

A live music performance using the Wampis Nampet - songs about the animals of the rainforest and habitat preservation, will be performed at Freerotatation Festival 2018, and broadcast on NTS radio shortly after. My performance fee will be donated to this cause, along with prints of my photography will be given out to generate donations. Following this, two exhibitions will raise additional funds for the community. Full project details and partners are here - https://www.aboutfacemusik.co.uk/los-bos

This on-going project is in partnership with rainforest preservation charity - Size of Wales (https://sizeofwales.org.uk), and Forest Peoples Programme (http://www.forestpeoples.org/) who support the rights of peoples who live in forests and depend on them for their livelihoods. The utilisation of raised money will be discussed and scrutinised with both charities to try to affect a legacy of change and empowerment in the community, towards a self-sustaining future.

Many thanks for your time and your donations.

Ben Kelly

Aboutface

https://www.aboutfacemusik.co.uk/