Safeguarding of Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa, Colombia, 2022-2024.

The audiovisual "Safeguard of Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa, 2024" seeks to make visible the initiatives led by women and men collectors, wood craftsmen and master varnishers to guarantee the permanence in the present and the future of the "Traditional Knowledge and Techniques Associated with the Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of Putumayo and Nariño, Colombia". Knowledge of pre-Hispanic origin, unique in the world, which was included as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with urgent safeguard measures on December 15, 2020 due to its imminent risk of disappearing.
The strategy supported by UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Knowledge of Colombia, together with the Mundo Espiral Foundation between the years 2022-2024 developed three central activities: (a) Strengthening capacities for trainers, aimed at 55 women and men collectors of mopa-mopa and master artisans; (b) A pilot teaching program in which each female and male collector and master accompanied one person in an individualized learning environment for a total of 55 apprentices; and (c) Implementation of dissemination and awareness initiatives about the artisanal technique in Nariño and Putumayo for the establishment of strategic alliances that benefited 110 people.