Building Bridges at the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples Conference
In February 2025, Azimuth was at the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples Global Conference in Naivasha, Kenya.
It was particularly meaningful to witness this crucial global dialogue happening in Africa for the first time.
One of the genuine pleasures of the conference was spending time with our partners Richard Ntakirutimana (AIMPO, Batwa), Christine Kandie (EIWEN, Endorois), and Carson Kiburo (Jamii Asilia Centre, Endorois), introducing their work to like-minded funders and other Indigenous-led organizations.
We also established valuable connections with Indigenous-led funds from Brazil that will support our work with partners there.
IFIP POST.001
Heartfelt exchange between AIMPO's Richard Ntakirutimana and Inimá Krenak from Fundo Casa, sharing strength around cultural preservation even in the hardest circumstances.
Highlighting Indigenous Solutions for Global Challenges
Our team organized a session titled “Roots of the Future: How Batwa and Endorois Heritage Preservation is Addressing Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change.”
For Richard, who experiences cultural suppression in Rwanda, being in a space where his cultural expression was welcomed by a global community of Indigenous peers created a profound sense of solidarity – a meaningful contrast to the restrictions the Batwa face in Rwanda.
Azimuth’s team also participated in a panel on “Cross-Learning in Indigenous Leadership” at the invitation of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, creating a valuable connection between our Endorois partners and KESAN, a remarkable Indigenous-led organization from Burma.
Beyond Conference Walls, Community Connections
The gathering extended beyond formal sessions into community visits that created lasting connections:
We visited Lake Bogoria and the Endorois community with Richard, witnessing their ecosystem regeneration through native tree planting at Sosiche – a sacred site.
This created a meaningful exchange between two displaced communities with shared traditions. Despite different circumstances, the shared experience of being together in the forest, preparing food, and celebrating with song and dance created a genuine sense of connection that transcended geographic boundaries.
IFIP POST.003
Visiting the Endorois community in Lake Bogoria.
We also spent time with the Ogiek community in their ancestral Mau Forest lands, learning about their landmark legal victory at the African Commission and ongoing efforts to protect their territory from carbon credit projects and other threats.
Share
Building Bridges at the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples Conference
In February 2025, Azimuth was at the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples Global Conference in Naivasha, Kenya.
It was particularly meaningful to witness this crucial global dialogue happening in Africa for the first time.
One of the genuine pleasures of the conference was spending time with our partners Richard Ntakirutimana (AIMPO, Batwa), Christine Kandie (EIWEN, Endorois), and Carson Kiburo (Jamii Asilia Centre, Endorois), introducing their work to like-minded funders and other Indigenous-led organizations.
We also established valuable connections with Indigenous-led funds from Brazil that will support our work with partners there.
IFIP POST.001
Heartfelt exchange between AIMPO's Richard Ntakirutimana and Inimá Krenak from Fundo Casa, sharing strength around cultural preservation even in the hardest circumstances.
Highlighting Indigenous Solutions for Global Challenges
Our team organized a session titled “Roots of the Future: How Batwa and Endorois Heritage Preservation is Addressing Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change.”
For Richard, who experiences cultural suppression in Rwanda, being in a space where his cultural expression was welcomed by a global community of Indigenous peers created a profound sense of solidarity – a meaningful contrast to the restrictions the Batwa face in Rwanda.
Azimuth’s team also participated in a panel on “Cross-Learning in Indigenous Leadership” at the invitation of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, creating a valuable connection between our Endorois partners and KESAN, a remarkable Indigenous-led organization from Burma.
Beyond Conference Walls, Community Connections
The gathering extended beyond formal sessions into community visits that created lasting connections:
We visited Lake Bogoria and the Endorois community with Richard, witnessing their ecosystem regeneration through native tree planting at Sosiche – a sacred site.
This created a meaningful exchange between two displaced communities with shared traditions. Despite different circumstances, the shared experience of being together in the forest, preparing food, and celebrating with song and dance created a genuine sense of connection that transcended geographic boundaries.
IFIP POST.003
Visiting the Endorois community in Lake Bogoria.
We also spent time with the Ogiek community in their ancestral Mau Forest lands, learning about their landmark legal victory at the African Commission and ongoing efforts to protect their territory from carbon credit projects and other threats.
Share
