Fernanda Castro Purrán

Director of Ríos to Rivers Chile

Fernanda Castro Purrán, is from the Pehuenche Mapul Callaquí tribe located in the upper basin of the Biobío. She is a high school teacher who specializes in tourism studies and is also a trekking guide. She grew up, thanks to her maternal family, surrounded by mountains and rivers. Since she was a child, she was taught to take care of and respect all the elements in the ‘Ñuke Mapü.’

In her culture they teach that each element of the earth is alive, that each one communicates, that the waters are alive and speak to them; with its sounds, with its changes, with its currents. That nothing is chance, everything has meaning and a reason, for this reason in the morning, we should not disrespect it, there is nothing to dirty it or damage it, we must ask for permission and thank. We do not own anything, we are a visit, just that.

She is the co-founder of Malen Leubü (Girls of the River), the first Pehuenche rafting team of Alto BíoBío. They created this team with the aim of raising awareness of the heritage value of rivers through the sport of white water rafting and kayaking. It is an incentive and motivation tool for the youth and the Pehuenche communities.

 In Fernanda’s words:

I witnessed the suffering, grief and frustration, because I saw my family fight and defend the BíoBío River when it was dammed, I felt the pain when it was underwater, Rapa, where we always bathed, where the rafts went, where we made Mote (a traditional stew) and as a family we enjoyed every summer.

I dream of boys and girls from my territory, filled with blood that flows without repression and that enjoys everything that the Mapul and our ancestors gave us. That people understand that water is life and takes care of itself.

When I met Ríos to Rivers it was a dream, it is all the support I needed to flow and concrete ideas with youth. Thanks to the Ríos to Rivers exchanges, young people who have the value of their natural heritage can now transmit a conscious message to the community of students on the importance of valuing the river basin.”

"El amor por la tierra se manifiesta defendiendola. Es una manifestación de amor y agradecimiento a la vida".

"Love for the earth is manifested by defending it, it is a manifestation of love and gratitude to life."