Emma Condori-Mamani is a Bolivian Friend. She is traveling for two months in the United States to speak with youth, American Friends, climate change NGOs, and others. She came to PYM’s Annual Sessions to share the work of Quaker Youth in Bolivia regarding climate change with Americans.
As Emma meets with people, she is having conversations about life in Bolivia, about the Quaker center she runs, and the Bolivian youth work she stewards to minimize climate disruption. They need funding, a chance to build greater understanding of Bolivia as a nation facing climate change, and vibrant cross-national relationships with schools, NGOs and meetings.
Emma hopes that US Friends will speak with state senators or congresspersons regarding the development of new laws or polices to prevent climate change and to give support to those countries, that like Bolivia, that face damage caused by climate change.
Emma has a story to tell, and she tells it compellingly:
“I was born in a Quaker Family. I am a linguist, a teacher and a writer. In 2016 I started working as a director at the Friends International Bilingual Center that offers programs regarding peace and social justice work. Bolivian Quaker youth and Young Adult Friends have been working especially hard on the projects of this Center.
“At early age I was inspired to be a Quaker by how my Mom and other adult Friends worshipped God and lived out their faith in Truth and Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God has taught me and guided me to love and take care of others, including the creation. I see and feel the presence of God in them all the time!”
Emma has networked with Friends and mapped out her travels, but monthly meetings and schools would be well rewarded by taking advantage of Emma’s time here to meet with her, hear her story first hand, learn what it feels like to grow up in a land of abundant rivers only to see those rivers run dry. More than that has changed. Her family used to eat Quinoa, but popular in the US it is now priced beyond affordability. The lowlands experience floods, the highlands have such drought that Emma’s mother has water only every three days.
Emma is fascinating when she describes the changes she witnessed growing up. In her youth, education was rationed, and girls were not allowed to attend school past 5th grade. Life for women has improved under the current President, Evo Morales,. He is of indigenous descent, has worked for poverty reduction, greater education, gender equality, and better social services during his two terms.
To connect with Bolivian Friends’ concerns through giving
https://www.centrobilingueinternacionalamigos.org/give
To connect with Emma please call PYM at 215-241-7115
