Noah’s Ark Project

WALF is a world-wide foundation, created by Bolivian artist Pancara Iturralde, with the mission to create programs and facilitate tools that help incorporate respect for animal life in the current practices of society, working in the legal, educational, conservation, and rescue areas. 

WALF's Noah's Ark project is an initiative for the conservation of species in Asian countries, and this year it starts  in South America to preserve the Bolivian fauna which is in danger of extinction: the Andean Hairy Armadillo, Guanaco, Chacoan Peccary, sloths, jucumari, Blue-throated Macaw, Red-fronted Macaw, Giant Otter, river dolphin and the tortoise. This project starts with the launching of a campaign in which artists and personalities of different spheres of national activities adopt the protectionist cause of one of these species. 

The first species of the project is the Andean Hairy Armadillo, a highly threatened variety with a total population of 12,000 specimens between Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. Its protectors are artist Mamani Mamani, communicator Marcela Renjel, and the support of plastic artists such as Giancarla Muñoz and Gilka Wara. 

In September, WALF will launch a competition to protect the Andean Hairy Armadillo, replacing its use in crafts to recover its place as part of our natural wealth. This competition has different categories: the first aimed at artisans-micro entrepreneurs that produce the best souvenir, the second for plastic artists who present their sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs, murals, and others; and the third aimed at artisans that may participate with carvings, embroidery, instruments, rattles, and others, with designs that promote the conservation of these species. 

The initiative is supported by CAF, Development Bank of Latin America and the World Bank Group through the IFC, which will provide training to the winners through their Business Edge Program. 

Registration is free, and the requirements are: 

Participants must fill out the registration form found in the www.walf.org webpage, or fill out the form available at the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism. Once the registration is complete, WALF will set-up an initial interview with the participant. 

Until October 19, when registration closes, interested parties must deliver their projects to WALF, which will provide qualified personnel to evaluate their development until the presentation of the final products for their participation in the competition. The award ceremony will take place in the offices of CAF's representation in La Paz during the first week of December.

AWARDS (8 awards in total)  

CATEGORY: MICROENTERPRISES  

Thanks to the World Bank, the best souvenir will receive a contract for the purchase of its first production with WALF, technical support in the development of a business plan, plane tickets, along with the recognition of the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism. In addition, the three winners will receive entrepreneurial training from the World Bank's Business Edge Program, which includes: Personal Development Skills, Marketing Management, Human Resources, Finances and Accounting, General and Operations Management. 

The winners of the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th place will receive training from the Enterprise Clinic of the Autonomous Municipal Government of La Paz (GAMLP, for its acronym in Spanish). 

CATEGORY: 

PLASTIC ARTISTS 

The best plastic work will receive a cash prize of USD 500, recognition from CAF and WALF, recognition from the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism, and plane tickets. 

CATEGORY: ARTISANS   

The best artisan work will receive a cash prize of USD 500, recognition from CAF and WALF, recognition from the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism, and plane tickets.

www.walf.org