Challenge
Wild meat and fish were historically a source of protein and nutrients for the Shuar communities. However, population pressures and hunting has led to a scarcity of wild animals in the Kutuku mountains, not only putting food security of these communities at risk, but also affecting the nutritional content of their diet. The traditional hunter-gatherer way of life is no longer sustainable. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen ancestral dietary traditions taking advantage of the current modern resources that these communities have at their disposal.
Additionally, it is pertinent to introduce habits that prevent disease and improve their general physical and mental health condition.
Beneficiary Population
Ten Shuar communities, which comprise approximately 1818 members
Objective
Step Forward seeks to develop programmes and initiatives that prevent disease and improve the physical and mental health of the Shuar communities through good health and nutrition habits, while respecting their ancestral knowledge, under the health approach defined by the World Health Organization as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being and not just absence of illness or disease“.
In order to achieve this, Step Forward:
- Encourages the consumption of local seeds such as Sacha Inchi and Nambi, which are a type of nut considered a “super food” for their great content of natural antioxidants, omega 3, 6 and 9 acids, and that are an excellent source of vegetable protein, free of gluten and cholesterol.
- Promotes good health and nutrition habits through nutritional workshops, nutritional cooking with local ingredients, development of physical activities and exercise, and improvement of hygiene habits, aimed at parents, older adults, children, and teens from the Shuar communities.
