IPATSE FUTURES: PENNYWISE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

March brings lots of sunshine, longer days, and increased attention to Ipatse Futures, our technical assistance project in Brazil. The Pennywise team has been working with project leadership in the U.S. and in Brazil to determine the best way to approach the complexities of creating self-sustaining economic and environmental opportunities for the Kuikuro and other indigenous groups in the Xingu region of the Amazon. To date, we have been able to set up a GIS monitoring system for data collection and resource mapping and have trained local community members on how to capture information and upload it to the database. Next steps include completing the administration building the project is developing in Canarana (the city closest to the Kuikuro village) and helping the Kuikuro further develop their infrastructure as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Pennywise directors will also be traveling to the Kuikuro Village in June. There, they will meet with the Kuikuro community, project partners and other key stakeholders to further develop project objectives, strategic partnerships and finalize intended outcomes. ​