About Laura
Protecting water and land in Sébaco, Nicaragua

Instagram: @lauriscolocho
Location: Sebaco, Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Laura Victoria Gutiérrez Montoya is an Indigenous woman and feminist who sees education for her people and the defence of her land as a new form of rebellion.

For Laura, the land is home—not only for herself but for all who coexist within it. Respect for every expression of life is part of daily living and an inheritance from her ancestors.

“If my land could speak, it would say that it is never too late to begin a struggle, and that no enemy is so powerful as to inspire fear.”
Laura Gutierrez

For her, climate justice is about rights, not compensation: the right to inhabit, the right to coexist, and the right to claim what belongs to communities. She emphasises that those most affected by climate change are often the least privileged.

Laura’s project

In Río Nuevo, Sébaco, Nicaragua, families face serious challenges accessing safe drinking water. Seasonal fluctuations, contamination, and climate change impacts compromise water quality and public health. Women, who bear primary responsibility for household water, often have to find individual solutions without technical support.

This project will directly benefit 15 families (around 160 people), more than half of whom are women, by installing a community-based water treatment system designed for local conditions. The system will be developed through water quality analyses and built with active community participation, using local knowledge and labour.

Once operational, 15 women will be trained as operators and managers, ensuring autonomy in its use and maintenance. Beyond providing safe drinking water, the initiative restores a fundamental human right, strengthens women’s leadership, and reduces climate vulnerability in Nicaragua’s Dry Corridor.

By combining technical solutions with community participation, Laura’s project empowers women to safeguard water security, defend their land, and protect the health and well-being of their families.

Learn more about the Amos Climate Fellowship →