Municipality of the Month



 

 

Advocates

  Ana Lucy Bengochea Martínez
Honduras
Advocate of the Making Cities Resilient campaign.
Email: analucybengochea@yahoo.es
 
 

Professional Profile

Es Tec. in Social Education with a Masters in International Sustainable Development. Since 1989, she has received training in Risk Reduction and Disaster Prevention Techniques by institutions such as UNDP and UN-Habitat. In 2005, she led the WAGUCHA foundations (which in the Garifuna language means “our roots”), a grassroots women's organization which is part of the Community Practitioners Platform (CPP) in Honduras. She is a member of the development team of the Declaration on Eco Agriculture (Nairobi, Kenya), contributing her knowledge of indigenous practices for environmental protection. She has received training at Fordham University (New York, USA) in the study of the Millennium Development Goals so she can socialize them among indigenous communities in Latin America. She is an expert in organizing the exchange of international experiences, community vulnerability mapping, community plans for disaster risk reduction and resilience, all with a clear gender perspective. Coauthor of “Metodologia Cantarranas” and primary advocate of the “Inter Alliance for Community Resilience in Honduras”.

 

    
 
 

“I started in social work at age 18 and never left.” It was the marginalization and exclusion of ethnic groups which motivated me to work for my community. I am of the Garifuna ethnicity and witnessed many injustices (...) My commitment to others is very strong ... The intuition that women have and our innate solidarity is heightened when we see others suffer, additionally when you come from a lower class, you become familiar with the feeling of hunger. Here, we began our work after seeing what happened with Hurricane Mitch. Realizing that the resources did not reach the communities, we formed the Garifuna Emergency Committee. Then with WAGUCHA, in 2005, we began working with community organizations to reduce risk, climate change and resilience. We have earned respect and credibility, without shame, without racism, because we are capable women, with love and dedication. Through the “Cantarranas Methodology”, we have involved the local authorities in the 10 Essentials of the Resilient Cities Campaign, and becoming an advocate of the campaign is an opportunity to further promote community resilience at the national and international level.“
Ana Lucy Bengochea Martínez