Help 85+ llama farmers in Peru access fair work

* You may view the full report on the PDF document attached at the bottom of the report with full size images. 

 Activities:

2-day intensive trainings for men and women llama farmers to gain necessary skills to provide a sustainable eco-friendly pack service with their llamas to tour operators in their area.

Progress:

20 new llama farmers received trainings in two different communities. This time the workshops were implemented in their communities instead of the Llama Pack Base Camp. This new dynamic worked quite well as the community members were able to implement learnings from the previous groups that had received trainings to design llama trek routes within their communities. The first part of the workshop consisted on presenting and discussing different llama trek styles and defining how an Andean llama trek would be unique and stand out from the rest of the world, followed by a session on COVID prevention guidelines. The second part of the workshop consisted on a practical excursion to design the routes for full day llama treks in each community.

Workshop Outcomes so far:

• 69 llama farmers from 7 high-Andean communities trained.
• High participation and acceptance of workshop content.
• Reinforcement of Llama Pack Project values and long-term goals.
• Opportunity to discuss different challenges faced by llama farmers under current pandemic circumstances.
• Training in tourism related skills.
• Training in use of llamas for tourism.
• Training in COVID-19 prevention under the tourism guidelines.
• Design of 3 llama trek routes.
• Co-creation of Llama Pack Community.
• Creation of 4 new llama-trek routes.
• Addition of new Guild of Llama Breeders of Huilloc community.

Huacahuasi and Quishuarani Training Workshops

09-11 December 2021 

Members of the Guild of Llama Breeders of Huacahuasi and Quishuarani gathered in each community to learn and discuss how to adapt their ancestral use of llamas to provide a pack service for a contemporary need in tourism while maintaining its cultural value and staying true to their traditions. 

After some key aspects of their ancestral tradition where highlighted they went on a practical, hands-on activity to practice the route with their llamas implementing the security and service lessons learned during the theorical session.

Throughout the training, Llama Pack Team members highlighted the importance of these actions to help preserve our fragile mountain ecosystems. Llama farmers felt quite grateful to be supported by a worldwide network of donors who believe in the importance of their work.

This opportunity reinforces pride among participants, motivating them to keep working to improve their llamas and generate awareness within the community, tour operators and visitors about the impact of Climate Change and the importance of conservation.

The implemented route and the workshop were a success and will help provide work for the members of the Guild of Llama Breeders. The other members of the Guild are looking forward to their turn to practice the route so they can provide a unique service to tour operators and visitors.

Thank you!

Thanks to all our donors, we continue to work on our long-term goals to improve the livelihood of high-Andean families and protect our fragile mountain ecosystems by promoting the use of llamas as a sustainable, eco-friendly pack alternative. This work allows the Llama Pack Project to stay connected with our llama farmer partners despite the current challenges presented by the global pandemic. Llama farmers are looking forward to their turn to participate on the training course! 

We will continue to update our progress on our next report. If you have not yet registered, please make sure to sign up for our newsletter to receive news on the Llama Pack Project here: https://mailchi.mp/c09d3cf9c0e0/llamapackproject

Alejandra Arias-Stella 

Llama Pack Project Co-Founder