About the project
Seydin and Valentina are young Colombian women who have been training at the Mujeres Bachue Intercultural Midwifery School for three years. In 2023, they received their diplomas as doulas, supporting families or women through development, fertility, pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has recognised midwifery, its knowledge, skills and practices as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is therefore vital that more women receive training in this ancestral knowledge.
Seydin and Valentina live in Palomino, a village at the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This knowledge is vital for Indigenous, local and foreign communities there that lack access to a high-quality healthcare system, and preserving this ancestral knowledge is essential.
These women are now known in the region as “Parteras Unidas” and offer community midwifery services including massage, uterine therapies, work with medicinal plants, traditional ceremonies to welcome new lives and support for others as they enter their final rest. These varied roles enrich a region of northern Colombia that was neglected by the country’s leaders for many years. Thanks to the commitment of Indigenous authorities, community organisations such as Parteras Unidas and donations collected by Nawowa, it has been possible to support these two women, who wish to continue their midwifery training in 2024.
Your contribution helps Seydin and Valentina provide for themselves and their families while strengthening their communities, which urgently need trained midwives.
2023 donation handover: 2 months of training
In January 2023, we were in Colombia and were able to hand over an impressive €150 in donations. This allowed us to fund two months of training for Seydin and Valentina. Both were delighted by this unexpected surprise 😊!
Here is a photo with all the school’s students:
