About our project
Our project examines the role that female indigenous leaders in the southern Peruvian Andes play in facilitating communication between women and the elderly in their communities, on the one hand, and public servants working in sectors such as justice, health and education, on the other. Their mediation is crucial in enabling those speakers of Quechua and Aymara, mostly female, who have limited or no competence in Spanish (the language of the State institutions) to access human rights. We seek to enhance the promotion of social inclusion for Peruvian indigenous women by visibilising the essential role of these voluntary “social interpreters” and empowering them, as well as the people who benefit from their work.
By working collaboratively with the social interpreters and the NGO that supports their role (Rural Educational Services, Asociación Servicios Educativos Rurales, SER), we aim to engage civil society and authorities with the complex role that the female social interpreters play in guaranteeing access to human rights for members of their communities. We believe that building capacity and increasing human capital through the socialisation of the role of female indigenous social interpreters can lead to their knowledge and personal attributes being recognised. In wider terms, we hope to contribute to creating social value and enhancing inclusion of minoritised groups. This project runs from January 2018 till January 2019. Please return to this website for updates on our activities and follow-ons.