The EPICA Story
OUR VISION
We envision a world in which our interdependence on the planet and fellow humans is an understood reality, and where those who defend the Earth are not doing so at the expense of their own opportunity to live fulfilling, thriving lives. Our first project is rooted in “Ayamprumati Chicham,” Achuar for “Language as a Weapon [to defend ourselves].”
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to support the indigenous communities of the Amazon rainforest in learning and teaching themselves English so they can thrive in an increasingly globalized world and continue to protect the Amazon for all humanity. Our English educational programs support educational, ecotouristic, and economic opportunities for the Achuar and, in turn, introduce our English-speaking volunteers to the culture and world-vision of our indigenous partners.
Who are the Achuar?
What's Going on in the Amazon?
The Amazon rainforest and the Indigenous Peoples who call it home are absolutely vital to the survival of our planet. However, the communities and the rainforest itself are under constant siege from oil drilling, mineral extraction, and other environmentally disastrous incursions of governments and corporations from the Global North. Throughout the rainforest, Indigenous communities are on the front lines defending their homes, often with support from non-profit environmental and social justice organizations. But as pressure continues to escalate, villagers are leaving the rainforest in search of work and better quality of life, and those who remain behind are the last line of defense for the rainforest and our planet.
Every minute, over 3 football fields of the Amazon rainforest are destroyed to feed the economic needs of humanity, primarily to benefit industrialized countries of the Global North. From soy fields that feed livestock to oil fields that feed our energy demands, the rainforest is at once the most pristine example of our planet’s beauty and richness but also the metastatic frontline of our lost relationship with the Earth. Scientists estimate that if we lose the Amazon, we not only lose the world’s most biodiverse ecosystem, but we will also hit a tipping point, accelerating the global climate crisis beyond any possibility of survival. Our hope lies in the partnership with the indigenous peoples who call the Amazon home–if we can support their defense of the rainforest and ensure their prosperity. Our mission is EPIC, and we need everyone’s involvement, beginning with you. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our indigenous partners, we may yet secure our collective survival and the recovery of our beautiful Earth.
The portion of the Amazon rainforest where the Achuar live is likely the single most biodiverse ecosystem on the face of the Earth (see info graphic to the left). Consider: 20% of the planet’s oxygen is produced there, as the over 400 billion trees of the rainforest absorb over 86 billion tons of CO2(1), hence why the Amazon is referred to as “the lungs of the planet”. This rainforest is also responsible for stabilizing the world climate, maintaining the planetary water cycle, containing one fifth of the world’s fresh water, and more than 50% of the world’s 10 million plant, animal, and insect species.(2)
In order to support and maintain the community-led resistance to environmental threats, viable alternatives for economic development in the communities are paramount. Several of the communities have identified ecotourism as a promising means of improving economic conditions at home while also sharing their culture and advancing relationships with the industrialized world.
Our goal is to assist the historical caretakers of the rainforest, the Achuar, in keeping control over their lands in order to preserve them for future generations.
Why English?
A lack of English language proficiency throughout the Achuar nation poses a significant barrier to their eco-tourism efforts.
Our goal at EPICA is to empower the community by supporting educational programs they have identified as crucial to their survival. The Ayamprumati Chicham program aims to run a self-sustaining English as a Foreign Language program by 2022. The Achuar want to teach the world about the immense value of the rainforest to the world and share its many secrets with us. By learning English they hope to gain the tools to do this.
Our goal is to assist the historical caretakers of the rainforest, the Achuar, in keeping control over their lands in order to preserve them for future generations.
Our Team
As a completely volunteer-run organization, we are able to ensure 100% of our funds go towards programs and producing outcomes. Please join our team so we can add you below!
Ginny SycuroPresident & Co-Founder
Ginny first visited the Ecuadorian rainforest in 2015 with her husband Fred while on vacation. Journeys such as that one have to power to change our lives in profound ways. While she was at Sharamentsa, Ginny was given a dream by Pachamama to build a school. As her guide and mentor, Julián Larread, once said to her, “You have been preparing for this your whole life.” Her diverse experiences, education, research and travel finally made sense to her; she realized that she has the tools to help the Achuar build their dream school. The process of building relationships and buildings had begun. 
Julián LarreaVice President & Co-Founder
Julián has spent decades leading people from all over the world into the heart of the Amazon rainforest to experience its wisdom. Through these visits, he has grown deeply committed to standing with the indigenous communities there to help protect this natural resource for all future life. As Director of Menté, the Ecuadorian partner in our work, Julián directs and helps fund all projects. He resides in Quito with his wife and two children. 
José PeasDirector, Ayamprumati Chicham
José is the Director of Ayamprumati Chicham, or English as a Tool, which is EPICA’s inaugural project. As an Achuar leader from Sharamentsa, he has successfully brought many projects for the community to fruition and been instrumental in bringing ecotourism to new Achuar villages. José lives in Sharamentsa, Ecuador with his family and is the primary liaison with our team.