Celebrating Cultural identity in Honduras

Today is International Mother Tounge Day. In the region where I work, though Spanish language dominates, there are more than 20 different languages and probably many more dialects. Recently I visited in Honduras the Asociacion Libre Expresion, they have worked with 6 different ethnic groups in Honduras on cultural identity topics.

One of their most recent projects, Telares Lencas, involved the development of leadership skills in young Lencas of Intibucà. This project developed a clothing line that utilised the traditional loom to create modern pieces. In this project traditional materials of this community formed part of modern garments. I would like Wanda Villeda, of the Asociacion Libre Expresion, to tell you more about her work promoting traditions and the culture of different ethnic groups.

“With the project Telares Lencas the Asociacion Libre Expresion has worked in developing leadership skills and empowering 20 young Lenca women, revitalising and promoting appreciation for their culture, self-esteem and leadership. Different dynamics and group work have allowed these women to value the particular elements of their culture. This new value and appreciation for their unique culture has served as inspiration to create a clothing line with 10 exclusive shirts that merge the autochthonous loom technique with contemporary fashion, reinforcing their cultural values and bringing back to life the use of looming in the women, forgotten by the younger generations who prefer contemporary clothing and feel ashamed to use traditional loom garments. The project is in the stage of production of the pieces, followed up by the marketing and commercialisation of the garments, all developed by these young women and supported by Libre Expresion.

Another interesting project that contributes to the culture and appreciation for their languages is the program developed in 2012, Asi Somos, which worked on the topics of personal discovery and culture with 70 girls of  different ethnic groups (Pech, Miskitas, Garifunas y Chorties) using photography as the principal tool. This girls constructed a photographic trip that explains through photos and messages in their mother tongue 8 topics; Who am I?; My family; How we live and what we do?; In what do we believe?; Celebration-tradition and games; The person I admire the most; What do I want to change?; and My dream. This trip allowed the girls to know about their own being and their culture, investigating and developing a relation with their past. The messages attached to the photos were written in the girls’ mother tongues and in Spanish. The project was followed up by a publication, first in the country to be published in 4 tongues, and an itinerant photographic exhibition, which visited the communities of the young girls and different venues in Tegucigalpa.

The Asociacion Libre Expresion (www.libreexpresion.org) has worked for 10 years in the promotion of leadership and self expression in youth in 3 different axes; responsible sexual health, human rights and cultural diversity, executing more than 35 projects since its foundation.