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Dear friend,

Farmer, nurse, community leader. Libia Armida Paz is a woman of many
talents — and fierce commitment to helping her Indigenous community
thrive.


[ [link removed] ]Read Libia’s full story [ [link removed] ]▸


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Libia Armida Paz, 57, coffee farmer and Indigenous community activist in
Colombia.


As Mercy Corps’ Global Content Producer, I was fortunate to meet Libia
during a trip to Colombia last year. She lives in La Sierra on the El Oso
reserve, a village home to the Indigenous Yanakona people. Much of this
region is heavily affected by conflict and violence. And as the impacts of
climate change accelerate, local communities must find new, sustainable
paths forward.

In the face of these challenges, Libia is helping lead the way to a
brighter, more equal future. She’s built a career out of helping those
around her, and in doing so has defied expectations to learn farming, put
herself through nursing school, start a coffee business, join the local
government, and ultimately become her village’s first woman governor.


[ Safa ]Safa in her bakery [ Safa's ]Safa's cinnamon buns

Libia speaks with Mercy Corps team member Yaneth Rodríguez (left, red
shirt). The training has helped Libia grow her coffee business (pictured
drying coffee beans on her farm).


Libia has worked closely with Mercy Corps’ gender and economic development
program, which helps more than 1,800 women receive training in small
business and agriculture. The program also provides financial management
to ensure that women have economic security — with a particular focus on
land titling, since acquiring formal land rights is a critical step for
families to increase their agricultural productivity and build healthier
communities.

Libia believes that it’s crucial to engage young people to see the impact
they can make in their home region of Cauca while caring for their land.
She has raised three children in Cauca, who are now raising their own
families there, too. She understands deeply why they must protect their
land for future generations.


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"As Indigenous people, we are very connected to our land and our
region. That’s our whole purpose, that is our essence, that’s how we
think.... It’s important to protect our land because that’s our water,
  our environment, our health, our food: the most essential things to  
human life. That’s true wealth."
 
LIBIA, COLOMBIA
 


The generosity of the Mercy Corps
community helps people like Libia in communities around the globe as they
adapt to the impacts of climate change and other urgent challenges.


Today, will you consider starting a monthly contribution to support
extraordinary leaders like Libia throughout the year ahead? [ [link removed] ]Join our
Partners In Possibility community.


[ [link removed] ]Give monthly [ [link removed] ]▸


Thanks for taking a few moments to meet Libia. She’s an
inspiration for all of us at Mercy Corps, and we hope she’s inspired you,
too.

Sincerely,

[11]Gabrielle Cohen Gabrielle Cohen
Global Content Producer

Gabrielle works to bring Mercy Corps’ impact to life by interviewing
program participants around the world and documenting people’s stories of
challenge — and change — in 40+ countries.

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