Meet Ivonne Gloria Casas Huanca, one of our many Scholars who are taking action today to change our world for the better.
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Name: Ivonne Gloria Casas Huanca VLI Cohort: Cohort 12 Home Country: Bolivia Social Issues that you are passionate about: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Environment; and Human Rights |
Ivonne hails from Bolivia, where she is a rising leader in sustainable development and human rights. She is participating in the Atlas Corps: Bolivia Virtual Leadership Initiative for Women’s Empowerment, a special partnership with Ciudad Mundo, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia. This initiative is working to equip Bolivian social impact professionals with leadership skills and strengthen ties between the United States and Bolivia toward economic development and inclusive prosperity in Bolivia. (You can learn more about our partnership here!)
Today, Ivonne shares her favorite part about participating in the Virtual Leadership Institute and how she plans to inspire positive change.
Can you share 3 words that describe leadership to you?
Emotional intelligence, communication, proactivity.
What’s your favorite part about the Virtual Leadership Institute so far?
The opportunity to communicate and network with other social impact professionals from Bolivia, the United States, and other countries have been my favorite aspect of the Virtual Leadership Institute so far. I have learned more and fostered a valuable intercultural exchange thanks to the perspectives and experiences we share in interactive workshops and peer training groups. In addition, it is undoubtedly an enriching and inspiring experience to be able to use the lessons learned from leadership projects to advance inclusive prosperity and the empowerment of women in Bolivia.
What is your best quick tip that you can share with us about how to succeed in VLI?
My best quick tip for success at the VLI is to actively participate in all interactive activities and workshops, take advantage of international connections, work with peers to develop leadership projects, and be open to learning and reflecting on personal and personal experiences. comparable to the experts. Taking advantage of this opportunity for both professional and personal development requires dedication, commitment, and adaptability.
What is your leadership project?
I am currently involved in projects focused on promoting human rights for vulnerable populations, addressing climate change, and addressing gender issues at national and international levels.
At the national level, I am one of the coordinators of the Network for Monitoring and Defense of Environmental Rights and the Rights of Indigenous and Afro-Bolivian Peoples (REDAMPIC). This is an interdisciplinary group of climate and human rights defenders, actors, and individuals interested in protecting these rights and the ancestral territories of these communities. The network comprises approximately 144 leaders, including indigenous peoples and Afro-Bolivians, young activists, leaders or authorities of peoples, professionals, researchers, and academics.
REDAMPIC’s work includes the following:
- Managing data, monitoring information, and producing intellectual content
- Promoting, protecting, and defending human and environmental rights
- Empowering and providing training
- Positioning, leveraging, and scaling efforts
- Ensuring accessibility, inclusion, and adoption of approaches
Our specific project involves:
- Promoting and preserving culture through academic research on issues related to writing and disseminating findings in national and international forums. This includes training and strengthening writing and communication skills, using technology and digital tools, and other related areas.
- Making sustainable contributions to the economy of vulnerable populations with a gender perspective, through the camp for women leaders where work is being done to establish digital platforms to promote the economy of the Communities.
- Implementing a legal, social, and environmental support program for communities or indigenous peoples.
To achieve these project objectives, we are collaborating with activist organizations, NGOs, international cooperation agencies, private non-profit institutions, and other relevant stakeholders.
Why does women’s empowerment matter?
Women’s empowerment matters because it is a crucial component for creating inclusive and sustainable economic development in any society. When women have access to equal opportunities, resources, and education, they can participate fully in the economy and contribute to the growth of their communities. Additionally, empowering women can have a positive ripple effect on families and future generations, as women are often the primary caretakers and educators of children.
Thank you, Ivonne, for sharing your leadership journey with us and we look forward to seeing you inspire positive change in the future!
Photos from Ivonnes’s personal archive.
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