Impact Spotlight
Solar energy access for 14 villages
Solar training for Indigenous leaders across the villages
Solar-powered internet access to bolster resistance to extractive industry
About
Associação Wakoborun is a Munduruku women-led organization defending Indigenous territory, autonomy, and ancestral ways of life in the Brazilian Amazon. Their work is rooted in the Alto Tapajós region of Pará, home to over 14,000 Munduruku people living across 150+ villages. These communities face daily threats from illegal gold mining, hydroelectric dams, and government neglect, but remain steadfast in their resistance and self-determination.
This project builds on years of grassroots organizing by the Ipereğ Ayũ Movement. Through solar power, Wakoborun ensures communities can safely coordinate, communicate, and protect their lands,on their own terms, and in their own language.
“This project is more than bringing solar energy to the villages—it’s our strength to communicate, to report invasions, and to protect our land. With energy autonomy, we secure our leaders’ safety, strengthen our organization, and prove that we can live sustainably without mining or polluting energy. This is our resistance—and a path of hope for the next Munduruku generations.”
HF Partnership
In partnership with the Honnold Foundation, Associação Wakoborun will maintain and expand 12 existing off-grid solar micro-systems across 14 Munduruku villages in the Alto Tapajós region. These systems power internet connectivity that is critical for real-time communication, emergency alerts, and territorial defense. The project includes replacing inverters, batteries, and cables, and training local technicians in operation and maintenance, ensuring long-term sustainability. By reducing diesel dependence and building technical capacity, this work supports a broader vision of climate resilience, Indigenous sovereignty, and community-led environmental stewardship.
In the News
