Agueda Ordeñana (2010, Nicaragua)

2010 iLEAP International Faculty
Uníon de Coopertivas Tierra Nueva (New Land Cooperative Union)
agueda@iLEAP.org
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Organization

Unión de cooperatives Tierra Nueva is comprised of small coffee and honey producers and located in the central region of Nicaragua. Since only 2% of the producers are women and most of the high power positions are held by men, improving gender relations is a key focus within the organization. The leadership of women in the organization is slowly emerging, as outreach efforts continue working to increase the participation of women in management and supervisory bodies.

Agueda's Work

Agueda comes from a farming family and is a professional trained agronomist. Since 1988 she has been committed to the promotion of rural sustainable development in Nicaragua, specifically in the fields of organic agriculture, environmental protection, and natural resource management. A significant aspect of her work in the agricultural sector has been around gender equality. Through education and leadership training and by collaborating with organizations in Central Nicaragua, more women are emerging as recognized leaders in the cooperative. One of her main goals in life is to contribute toward the development of strong principles and participatory values in young women-characteristics that she is working to instill in her two young daughters.

"I wish to strengthen my knowledge and skills to help me be a more effective leader to the partners and associates of Unión de Cooperatives Tierra Nueva. I am very excited to meet others who are working in rural development and agriculture and I look forward to taking new and innovative tools back to my community."

Agueda is a recipient of the Central American Women's Leadership award, a program developed in partnership with the Seattle International Foundation to equip and inspire women's leadership in sustainable social change throughout the region.