About Our Indigenous Amazon-Focused Assistance Organization
Our Purpose
Assist pregnant indigenous women in obtaining prenatal care by providing transportation from their communities to doctors, clinics, and hospitals in the “Three Frontiers” region of the Amazon (where the three borders of Colombia, Brazil and Peru meet at the river towns of Leticia,
Tabatinga and Santa Rosa on the Amazon River), provide classes in English to indigenous, and assist with conservation and preservation of the rainforest.
IATIAP also provides funds to assist with transportation of indigenous children with their guardians to obtain health care.
Fundraising
IATIAP’s primary fundraising method is the lease of one square foot parcels of untouched Amazon rainforest. IATIAP leases several hectares of rainforest from indigenous Huitoto in Amazonas, Colombia, on one year leases under which indigenous landholders are paid fair market value for the carbon capture potential of their land. Two square feet of leased Amazon rainforest captures and stores enough carbon dioxide to offset the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by charging either a smart phone or a tablet for one year. LEASE TWO SQUARE FEET for $10.00 USD and offset your smart phone or tablet carbon footprint for one year!
Donations
IATIAP also accepts donations; however, approval as a tax-exempt organization is pending. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding whether your donation may be deductible.
IATIAP is a small organization and is limited to the Three Frontiers region, but our motto is that OUR SMALL ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN THEIR BIG WORDS. We’re not talkers; we’re doers.
IATIAP is not affiliated with nor does it espouse the views of any religion and it has no political affiliations.
Please contact us at info@iatiap.org if your school, fraternal organization, university, volunteer group (including volunteer fire departments) and others would like to learn more about our 50/50 fundraising program whereby your organization and the indigenous Amazon people benefit equally through our combined efforts.
Martha Parente, the IATIAP representative for the Tarapaca-Leticia-Tabatinga District, is a 30 year old native of San Pedro de Los Lagos, Amazonas, Colombia, a traditional community in the rainforest accessed by a hiking trail from Kilometer 9 of the Via Tarapaca. She is a graduate of Maria Auxiliadora Indigenous Boarding School and is a certified Ecological Agricultural Production Technologist. In her free time, she enjoys weaving bracelets, necklaces, and headbands and making earrings, all using materials sourced from the rainforest. She enjoys escorting visitors to her community on hikes in the rainforest to observe birds, and she offers crafting workshops to those who want to learn indigenous crafting techniques. Martha also plays soccer in a competitive indigenous women's soccer league. Martha and her husband, Rusbel, live in San Pedro de Los Lagos with their daughters, Maria and Nadia. Her first language is Ticuna. She also speaks fluent Spanish and is studying English.
Armando Curitima, the IATIAP representative for the Leticia-Puerto Narino-Caballococha District, is a 45 year old who was born and raised in the deep rainforest of Amazonas, Colombia. He is a rainforest and river guide with a deep and intimate knowledge of the native flora and fauna, as well as the labyrinth of indigenous trails in Amazonas and the tributaries of the Amazon River. In his free time, Armando enjoys coaching soccer, playing cards, fishing and teaching local children traditional songs, dances, and games. Armando and his wife, Glenis, live in Mocagua, 60 kilometers west of Leticia on the Amazon River, with their eight children. His first language is Ticuna. He also speaks fluent Spanish.
