We are thrilled to welcome Johanna Veloz to the Green Empowerment (GE) team! Johanna brings a variety of skills and experiences to our work in Ecuador and we are sure she will be a great asset as we expand our efforts in the country and region. Green Empowerment has supported projects in Ecuador since 2005. In 2015, we strengthened our commitment by hiring field staff and, in response to increased activity with our partners over the last year, a local Ecuador Fellow – Johanna!
Before joining GE, Johanna studied management and leadership in college and completed a Master’s degree in Rural Territorial Development at the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (Latin America Social Sciences Institute) (FLACSO). After college, she began her career at a non-governmental organization (NGO) where she addressed challenges in agroecology and food sovereignty. She believes this was a great way to start her career in development, as it deepened her connection to the community members she supported, particularly women who sought to advance social justice. In recent years, she worked on a United Nations project focused on the conservation of protected areas, giving her the opportunity to work on livelihood projects with communities in the Amazon and coastal regions.
In Johanna’s new role at Green Empowerment, she represents GE in discussions with local partners and agencies, supports project implementation and works diligently to increase our impact in Ecuador. She is excited to learn more about our unique approach to development – advancing communities through knowledge exchange, partnership and respect for their cultural needs and values. She says, “I like GE because it improves livelihood opportunities for families in rural areas and I hope that the actions developed by GE empower women, especially, to improve their opportunities.”
Please join us in welcoming Johanna to the Green Empowerment family!