Projects in Colombia
THE U'WA
In Colombia’s Cloud Forest, the indigenous U’wa people consider themselves the defenders of the Earth; they are known for living very lightly on the land. For years, they have been fighting corporations’ plans to drill for oil. Empowered by Light, in partnership with GivePower, provided several U'wa communities with portable solar units that allow the U’wa to better communicate and defend their territory while staying true to their ethical and spiritual beliefs.
Photo credit: Amazon Watch
Empowered by Light has collaborated with Amazon Watch, Greenpeace-Brazil, and others to build small, replicable solar systems for indigenous peoples like the U’wa who are struggling at the intersection of conservation, conflict, and livelihood development. These systems allow these indigenous groups to thrive as autonomous but connected communities, while also increasing their capacity to share their stories, struggles, and solutions with the wider world.
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