Last year, 175 organizations participated in the applicant pool of our first-ever global open call, leading to the selection of 24 finalists, of which 4 received grants. You can read more about that process here.
We were moved by the compelling and varied initiatives of activists and practitioners taking action for climate justice and resilience around the globe. Discovering the transformative work of these organizations across diverse contexts has been an inspiring journey, and we are eager to share their stories with our network.
That’s why we’re thrilled to launch “Stories of Action”—a series where, every Tuesday over the next few months, we’ll feature one of the open call finalists on our social media platforms. This initiative seeks to amplify impactful climate justice efforts and inspire organizations, practitioners, and funders within our community.
Uru Uru Team
In Oruro, Bolivia, Lake Uru Uru stands as a vital wetland on the Bolivian Altiplano, one that has sustained life and culture for generations. However, this Ramsar-recognized ecosystem now faces existential threats. Diminished rainfall, rising temperatures, and retreating glaciers—symptoms of a changing climate—have severely reduced its water levels and biodiversity. The pollution resulting from urban waste and mining activities has further destabilized the delicate balance of this once-thriving environment.
Dayana Blanco
Amid this crisis, Dayana Blanco, a young leader from the Uru Uru Team, recounts her community’s journey of resilience and innovation. Through collaborative, nature-based solutions, local residents are working to restore the lake’s health and safeguard its future. Their efforts reflect not only a deep connection to their ancestral home, but also an inspiring model of grassroots climate action.
“When I think of Lake Uru Uru, I can still see it stretching across the high plains of Oruro, reflecting the mountains in its crystal-clear waters, and I can hear hundreds of flamingos flying around. For our community, Uru Uru has been our first home for generations, where our roots lie.
That’s why it was traumatic when, in 2016, the waters were contaminated by a nearby mine, and trash from the city began to arrive. We watched as the waters of our lake gradually turned black and thick, and the land started to become desertlike. Fishing became impossible, the milk from our cows was no longer drinkable, and the blackened bodies of flamingos lay dead around our lake. In response, the adults in our community organized protests, demanding solutions from the local government. But no one seemed to listen, and a feeling of helplessness started to spread. So, together with a group of young people from our community, we decided to take action and try an ancient filtration method to clean the lake. Our grandparents had taught us that totora—a plant that can absorb heavy metals and contaminants—was once used to purify well water. We built platforms from totora to start cleaning Uru Uru. We were amazed when UNICEF heard about our initiative and collected lake samples to see if our efforts were working. After a professional lab confirmed that our ancestral technique was effective, more community members, especially young people, joined the initiative. Today, we’ve reduced the lake’s pollution by 30 percent, and we’ve built over 300 totora platforms. After nearly ten years, we’ve finally seen flamingos return, reassuring us that our lake is healing.”
Dayana Blanco
Restoring wetlands is vital for both the environment and local communities, as they protect biodiversity, clean water, and help combat climate change.
Watch here more about Dayana and her team in their mission to revive Lake Uru Uru and bring life back to this precious ecosystem!