Equitable Origin (EO) is very excited to share that our initiative to expand digital equity and connectivity in the Amazon has received critical funding to take our efforts to the next level. Thanks to a generous grant of nearly $300,000 from the Internet Society Foundation’s BOLT Grant Program and with the vital support of global non-profit technology leader TechSoup, we’re scaling our work to support Indigenous communities in Ecuador and Peru.
Amazon Always Connected
EO’s CEFO Indigena initiative, “Sianëtsio sikowa’i” (translated as "Amazon Always Connected"), strives to address the significant digital and gender divides faced by Indigenous communities in one of the world’s most biodiverse and underserved regions. Specifically, working primarily with Siekopaai Indigenous women’s traditional craft cooperatives, we will expand high-speed connectivity, digital safety and local technical capacity in the Amazon region shared between Peru and Ecuador.
Why does this matter? Because connectivity is more than just access to the Internet—it’s a lifeline to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and the preservation of rights and cultural heritage. It is fundamental to territorial monitoring and to informed decision making.
Proven Model, Scaled for Greater Impact
This project builds on an award-winning and financially self-sustaining community-led model for connectivity that has already helped transform 10 Indigenous communities across Latin America. Working with Mexico’s Laboratorio Popular de Medios Libres we integrate local technical, digital literacy and online safety training. Focused on traditional craft cooperatives, we support these remote communities to own and sustain their networks in a way that contributes to cultural and environmental conservation and to auto-determination.
"TechSoup is proud to partner with Equitable Origin and the ISOC Foundation to support this important work,” said Stephen Jackson, Director of Strategic Communications for TechShoup. “We love Equitable Origin’s approach in partnering with local civil society leaders to improve the lives of others through tech."
A Global Collaboration to Bridge the Divide
We are honored to join a global cohort of grantees through the Internet Society Foundation’s BOLT program. Since 2021, BOLT has supported projects deploying innovative connectivity solutions in underserved regions—from solar-powered kiosks in Senegal to Indigenous-led networks in Nepal.
“We’re excited to support bringing Internet connectivity to hard reach communities in the Amazon to digitally empower Indigenous women in Ecuador and Peru,” said Maiko Nagagaki, Senior Program Officer for the Internet Society Foundation. “We believe in supporting communities to unlock the Internet's potential to tackle global challenges, and we are confident Equitable Origin and its partners are well positioned to achieve this.”
Supporting Indigenous Women as Agents of Change
This initiative focuses on Siekopaai Indigenous Women’s Craft Associations as the drivers of change. These traditional communities, who have been present in this region for tens of centuries, were forcibly divided by conflict between Ecuador and Peru in the late 1940s. Only recently have the Siekopaai people begun a process of reconnecting, rebuilding cultural practices, and jointly-managing resources, with women playing a crucial role. By combining traditional skills that are tied to local ecosystems with modern technology, these associations will lead the charge in managing culturally-appropriate, resilient networks that will strengthen the Siekopaai people as a whole as stewards of this biodiverse hotspot.
“This work is about more than just connectivity,” said Joaquin Wray, CEFO Project Director at Equitable Origin. “It’s about supporting Siekopaai people as they return to their ancestral territories and equipping Indigenous women with the tools and skills to lead their communities toward sustainable digital inclusion and resource governance in the Amazon.”
What’s Next?
As we embark on this ambitious project, we’re inspired by the resilience, creativity, and leadership of the communities we serve. Together, we’re building a future that honors the Amazon’s cultural richness, ecological diversity, and potential for innovation.
Stay tuned for updates. Visit the CEFO Indigena website - home to our collaborative program with the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) and stay in touch by subscribing to our newsletter.
About Equitable Origin:
Equitable Origin is a non-profit organization that supports companies, communities, and Indigenous Peoples in ensuring responsible natural resource development. Since its founding in Ecuador in 2009, EO has worked with Indigenous Peoples, the private sector, other non-governmental organizations, and governments to foster sustainable development that respects the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
About CEFO Indígena:
CEFO is a collaborative initiative with the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin (COICA) to connect Indigenous Peoples to relevant resources that help protect environmental and human rights defenders, bring government services to remote areas, increase local capacity for crisis response, improve the safety of Indigenous women, improve access to education for Indigenous youth, and promote economic development in Indigenous communities.
About the Internet Society Foundation
The Internet Society Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the open development, evolution, and use of the internet for the benefit of all people. Through grant programs and initiatives, they work to bridge the digital divide, promote digital inclusion, and support projects that foster equitable access to the internet worldwide.
About TechSoup
TechSoup is a nonprofit organization that provides technology support and resources to other nonprofits, charities, and libraries worldwide. Founded in 1987 as CompuMentor, it has evolved into a global network offering access to donated and discounted software, hardware, and services from major technology companies.
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