Our Story
SIREJ is a collection of UO students, Bolivian indigenous students and UO faculty working in collaboration with Bolivian indigenous communities, both in person and remotely, to support indigenous rights and environmental justice. The organization is connected to the GEO "Indigenous Rights and Environmental Justice in Bolivia" study-abroad program; SIREJ's founding members were participants of the 2019 trip. The idea for the organization was first pitched while we were still in Bolivia, sitting around the table in Paradise Cafe located in Urubichá, Guarayos. Inspired by the community interactions we’d had so far and awed that our experience was almost over, we knew we wanted to continue the collaboration we had participated in and to educate others about what we had learned. From the beginning, we agreed on core values of accountability to our indigenous partners and respect in our practices and communications; these morals are the heart of our organization and direct the ways in which we conduct our projects.
Together with indigenous community members and professors in Bolivia, SIREJ assists in development of projects such as website creation, marketing assistance, and publicity creation which benefit the communities. Additionally, SIREJ is working with GEO to offer additional support to students preparing to participate in the "Indigenous Rights and Environmental Justice in Bolivia" study-abroad program, such as team-building exercises and camera-use training.
SIREJ welcomes any who wish to participate and not solely study-abroad program participants.
Together with indigenous community members and professors in Bolivia, SIREJ assists in development of projects such as website creation, marketing assistance, and publicity creation which benefit the communities. Additionally, SIREJ is working with GEO to offer additional support to students preparing to participate in the "Indigenous Rights and Environmental Justice in Bolivia" study-abroad program, such as team-building exercises and camera-use training.
SIREJ welcomes any who wish to participate and not solely study-abroad program participants.