A workshop on nutrition and balanced diets was held in Region 1 of Guyana, May 14 and 15, specifically in the Mabaruma–Hosororo area, with participation of Warao Indigenous communities from both Guyana and Venezuela.
Ceama.org reported that the initiative brought together more than 300 people of all ages, from 13- and 14-year-olds to adults in their 60s and 70s, “in an educational setting aimed at promoting healthy habits, disease prevention, and community strengthening.”
The activities took place in Indigenous communities such as White Water and Yarakita territories where numerous migrant Warao families and Indigenous communities live, keeping their cultural and linguistic traditions alive.
The workshop was organised by the migration support programme of the Diocese of Georgetown, with the accompaniment of the Society of Jesus and the support of UNICEF, as part of the joint mission to accompany Indigenous peoples and vulnerable communities in this Amazonian and Caribbean region.
Fr Santiago Lantigua SJ, a Jesuit in Guyana and Delegate for Religious Life in the Antilles for CEAMA, emphasised the initiatives’ aim to “promote education on health issues, the importance of a balanced diet, and disease prevention through healthy habits and customs.”
He also said this work is part of the Society of Jesus’ mission to accompany the most vulnerable people, especially Indigenous communities and migrants who face multiple social and economic challenges.
The Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) is a permanent and representative ecclesial body of the Amazon region.
It noted that it values initiatives “that strengthen dignity, the care of life, and the comprehensive promotion of Indigenous peoples in Amazonian and Caribbean territories.”
