Mercedes has joined the Birth Attendant Training!

Mercedes is a deeply trusted leader in the Pumpuentsa community. She is also an elementary school teacher–something very unusual for Achuar women. Because of her devotion to her family, students, and community, Jungle Mamas has selected Mercedes to receive a birth attendant training. The scholarship will provide in-depth, practical training to become a Skilled Birth Attendant. This is a future Achuar women could not have dreamed of before the Jungle Mamas program.

Mercedes has a big dream to help ensure the health & wellbeing of her people while preserving their culture and traditional way of life. Her incredible ability for remembering material taught in the workshops and teaching it to others, and her skill at translating from the native Achuar language to Spanish, gives her a key role in the education of her fellow classmates. Mercedes’ grasp of the material about safe birthing practices and her fierce commitment to preserving traditional healing methods help ensure a bright, healthy future for her community.

Thank you Rajeev, Akiko, Kandace, Micah, Brad, George, Richard, Mike & Suzanne, Rick & Beth and Susan for your generous support of this program for Mercedes.

Your contribution will help Mercedes fulfill her dream of becoming a Skilled Birth Attendant! This will give her the hands-on experience essential to help ensure safe births and healthy babies where there is no doctor or medical care.