Mama Agustina: Healing the Healer

Adriana Gómez Unda is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Claudia Valladares.

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THE SITUATION:

Mama Agustina, a midwife and traditional healer of the Misak indigenous nation (Colombia), is a living symbol of resilience and ancestral wisdom. Today, she needs our help.

Her health has been severely impacted by a kidney disease, requiring constant dialysis treatments. She currently lives in a temporary shelter, in a 1.5 m x 2.5 m room, in the middle of the city of Popayán with no green space. This place does NOT meet the conditions necessary for her well-being.

We want to offer her a dignified home, a space close to the hospital to facilitate her treatment, but also with a garden where she can reconnect with nature, an essential part of her identity. In this space, she will receive care from Misak healers (mamas and taitas), who will bring the traditional medicine essential to restore her balance and well-being.

WHO IS MAMA AGUSTINA?

Since the age of 12, her path has been guided by dreams and the spirits of her land, who entrusted her with the mission of welcoming newborns, healing through medicinal plants of her territory, and passing down the knowledge that connects the Misak people to the Law of Origin. Her work is not just an act of care; it embodies resistance, wisdom, and a profound connection to life.

As a midwife, Mama Agustina has accompanied countless mothers on their journey to motherhood, offering not just her hands but also her strength and the spiritual and cultural legacy of her people. Her life is a testament to dedication and service, a living example of the strength that sustains ancestral communities.

This is a call to give back a little of what she has given throughout her life because caring for those who care for us is an act of justice and humanity.

More on Mamita in this link

WHY DO WE NEED THE HELP OF THE TRIBE?

Because Mama Agustina has dedicated her life to service, and now it is our turn to give back a little of all that she has given.

Her legacy of care, wisdom, and love has inspired those who know her deeply and even those who have only briefly crossed paths with her. Now, we want her to feel the power of the community, the strength of reciprocity, and to know that her life of service has been worth it.

This gesture is more than an act of support; it is a collective embrace meant to remind her that she is not alone, that the family she has cared for, along with those who are just now getting to know her, are here to sustain her. We want her to feel loved and recognized, to know that her life is an inspiration and that her light transcends.

With your help, we can provide her with a dignified home, a space where she can rest, heal, and feel close to the nature that defines her so deeply.

Every contribution, no matter how small, is a message of love and gratitude that Mama Agustina deserves. With the funds raised, we will cover the rent for her new home, utility expenses, the care of a nurse, transportation, and medical costs necessary for her treatment. If we exceed our initial goal, we will be able to invite the taitas (healers) to provide her with the traditional medicine of her people, which is so essential to her well-being.

HOW WILL THIS CROWDFUNDING WORK?

All funds raised will be used exclusively to ensure Mama Agustina’s well-being and quality of life. These funds will cover:

Rent for her living space, a location close to the hospital that offers her tranquility and a connection to nature.
Continuous care, including the support of Mama Jacinta, who will be with her full-time, and a substitute caregiver during breaks to ensure constant attention.
Food, medications, and transportation required for her medical treatments.
Regular visits from her Misak taitas, who will accompany her once or twice per month with traditional medicine essential to her physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being.

ESTIMATED MONTHLY COSTS

We estimate the monthly cost to support Mama Agustina is approximately $1,430 USD per month ($6,260,000 COP) distributed as follows:

HOW CAN I TRACK MY CONTRIBUTIONS?

To ensure transparency, we will share a detailed monthly report of how the funds are being used, along with updates on Mama Agustina’s life.

We want everyone participating in this circle of support to feel like an active part of this gesture of reciprocity, clearly seeing how their contribution positively impacts the life of a woman whose story inspires us all.

If you want to learn more, stay updated, or share your ideas, needs, and suggestions, you can join this whatsapp group where we will be attentive to your inputs.

WHO IS DRIVING THIS INITIATIVE?

We are a collective who have been accompanying Mama Agustina for a long time (Liz, Giovanna and Marcela). Recently, we have been joined by members and close friends from the Ayllu Tiqsi Muyu (Silvana, Aleja Reyes, Alejo Sanzón, Aleja Medina, Daniela V., Sanelly and Adriluna). We are also supported by Edu, Lau, Tati and Kalú from Endémica Studios who have already made a contribution.

If you want to learn more, stay updated, or share your ideas, needs, and suggestions, you can join this whatsapp group where we will be attentive to your inputs.

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