Women Leading Sustainability from the Ground Up in Galápagos

November 1, 2025
11:23 pm

With support from Galápagos Conservancy, 15 women from San Cristóbal Island turned the seed of an idea into an entrepreneurial movement that produces local food, advances sustainability, and strengthens their community.

When the Gardens and Rights project began, most of the participants had limited experience in farming. But what they shared was a clear vision to make their island more self-reliant and resilient through sustainable food production.

Over six months of hands-on training, they designed and maintained organic home gardens adapted to Galápagos conditions. In total, 15 gardens took root—where tomatoes, radishes, basil, and cucumbers now thrive under the equatorial sun.

Beyond the harvest, the women established themselves as community leaders, demonstrating how locally driven innovation can build both environmental and social resilience.

Led by the local organization Fundación Ola Igualdad, with support from Galápagos Conservancy, the initiative demonstrates how women-led action can drive lasting, systems-level change across the islands.

A Local Solution to a Local Challenge

Food production in Galápagos is limited by factors such as climate, soil, and the distance from the mainland. Most fresh produce arrives by ship, raising costs and increasing dependency on imports. This system also heightens the risk of invasive species, one of the archipelago’s greatest environmental threats.

For these women entrepreneurs, cultivating home gardens became a strategic way to strengthen food security while advancing soil health, biodiversity, and nutrition. Each garden, whether a compact greenhouse or a few raised beds, represents a step toward greater independence, resilience, and sustainability.

The project also embraced a holistic view of sustainability that includes human rights and well-being. Through workshops, participants examined equity, leadership, and the right to a sustainable life—recognizing that caring for the environment goes hand in hand with caring for people.

Learning, Sharing, and Leading

One of the project’s most effective strategies was peer mentorship. Experienced participants coached others, exchanging practical knowledge and problem-solving ideas.

That network of collaboration continues today through workshops, follow-up visits, and a WhatsApp group where members share photos, techniques, and results.

Despite the challenges, unexpected rains, pests, and even household pets damaging some crops, the group finished the season with tangible results: fresh produce on their tables and a replicable model of community-led sustainability.

“This project highlights how women in Galápagos are innovators in sustainable development and catalysts for change. Each garden is now a space of learning, leadership, and opportunity.”— Carla Sotomayor, Director, Fundación Ola Igualdad

Support that Multiplies Impact

As part of Galápagos Conservancy’s Community Grants Program, Gardens and Rights reflects the organization’s commitment to strengthening local leadership and catalyzing solutions that grow from within the community itself.

Our role is to accompany, connect, and amplify community-driven initiatives that can thrive independently over time.

“We support projects that take root in community commitment and blossom through sustainability. Gardens and Rights shows that when empowerment and sustainability come together, results endure.” — Estefanía Játiva, Grants Manager, Galápagos Conservancy

By the end of the program, participants were already mentoring others and sharing the model with neighboring communities, helping gardens and local expertise flourish across the inhabited islands of Galápagos.