Margaret Love, Founder of the Jungle Mamas Program
In 2013, the Jungle Mamas program is looking ahead to some big changes and new partnerships that will continue their successful support of Achuar communities’ efforts to ensure safe births, healthy families, and leadership of women.
Margaret Love, who founded the program and directed it since its inception six years ago, has turned the program over to a new team of people to spearhead its next phase, on behalf of The Pachamama Alliance.
Here we share a personal letter from Margaret, as she announces the plans, and reflections by Arlene Samen, one of the people who will carry this program forward into a new chapter.
A Personal Note from Margaret Love
Dear Jungle Mamas Supporter,
I'm writing to let you know that as of Jan.1, 2013 I have successfully transitioned out of the position as the Jungle Mama's Founding Director.
I am ridiculously excited, happy and proud to introduce to you my succession team of, Lynne Twist, Arlene Samen of One Heart World-Wide, Yeshi Neumann along with our continuing Program Director, Robin Fink and Program Coordinator, Narcisa Mashienta! I am completely confident that I could not have left Jungle Mamas in better hands!
I'm looking forward to watching the program grow, flourish and expand beyond my wildest dreams. I hope that you're as excited about watching the new progress that Jungle Mamas will make as I am.
Founding and developing the Jungle Mamas program this past 6 years has caused me to stretch, learn, mature and develop in ways I'll be eternally grateful for! I'm sad and yet completely satisfied to be moving on.
I want you all to know that it's totally clear to me that I could never have done any of it without YOU! Yes, that means YOU! I treasure each and every one of you and the difference that you've made and I THANK YOU with my whole heart.
With love,
Margaret
Jungle Mamas – Creating New Partnerships and Learning from Our Sisters
By Arlene Samen
For more than 15 years, One Heart World-Wide has worked in remote areas of the world helping reduce maternal and newborn mortality. We worked for over ten years in Tibet, and have now spread our “Network of Safety” model to Nepal and the Copper Canyon of Mexico. We are thrilled to be able to share our knowledge and experience with the Jungle Mamas team.
In January of 2013, One Heart World-Wide made its first journey to Achuar Territory, where we were greeted by the Jungle Mamas program director, a young and vibrant anthropologist named Robin Fink. The following day Yeshi Neumann, a US-based midwife who has been involved as a trainer and curriculum developer in the Jungle Mamas program, and Narcisa Mashienta, the local program coordinator for Jungle Mamas, met us in Quito. We spent the next several days learning about one another and how we could work as a team to expand Jungle Mamas’ reach.
A few days later we flew together to the Achuar community of Sharamentsa. I was incredibly moved by Sharamentsa’s community vision to promote and use alternatives to resource extraction.
We then visited the community of Tsunkintsa, located in the province of Morona-Santiago, very close to the border of Peru. There, over a 4 a.m. guayusa tea ceremony, we met with community members to discuss the dreams, plans, and objectives of the Jungle Mamas program for 2013.
It was over guayusa that we were able to engage in a thorough discussion of how we can all work together to improve the quality of life for the Achuar people. To accomplish so much, so early in the morning, with so many people from the community, with the sounds of the jungle surrounding us, was incredible.
Next was a visit to the community of Numbaimi, located in the Province of Pastaza. There, we met with two Achuar women who had attended previous Jungle Mamas trainings. One woman told us that, since receiving the trainings, she has attended four births in her community, and found the women grateful for her help. Both women were eager to receive more training.
Being able to experience the Amazon firsthand, and to speak with the Achuar about working together to make sure that no Achuar woman or baby dies in childbirth, was inspiring. The warrior strength and vision the Achuar people have for protecting their territory in the Amazon Rainforest reminded me of the warrior-like spirit of the Tibetans whom I previously worked with.
Surrounded by the jungle, untouched by resource extraction, I found myself imagining the potential destruction of Mother Earth and these indigenous people that the 11th Oil Round threatens. So that the Achuar may continue to protect their home and communities, it is of utmost importance that Achuar women realize their right to give birth safely.
I vow to do everything I can to reduce birth-related deaths in the Amazon rainforest. No woman should ever have to risk death in order to give life.
