Olah x The Hakhu Project
Hahku, which means let’s go in Kichwa, is an organization that is dedicated to promoting sustainable development projects in league with small indigenous communities within the Ecuadorian Amazon.
The Hahku Project was formed by community leaders and Leo Cerda, an environmental activist and member of the Kichwa Nation, as a way to provide income for people in these areas that are hard hit by oil exploitation. Hahku’s goal is to create sustainable sources of income for indigenous people from the Amazon region so we can have an alternative to the extractive and destructive industries of oil, mining, lumber, and beef. The first project to be undertaken is Hahku Amazon Design.
Hakhu Amazon Design has generated artisanal capacity for more than 200 indigenous women across three provinces in the Ecuadorian Amazon, creating jobs and providing income for families and their children who now face less pressure to leave their territories in search of employment. Hakhu Amazon Design has now launched its very first collection, combining traditional and contemporary art.
We want to share our vision with other people, communities and organisations around the world. We seek further recognition of the importance of protecting the Amazon rainforest and the artistic and cultural heritage of indigenous people. The sustainability of this project is already crucial for the livelihood of 200 families. We hope that this figure continues to grow.
