Laura Coleman

Laura (she/they) is a writer and artist. In 2007, she went to Bolivia and joined the NGO, Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi, which manages three wildlife sanctuaries and gives homes to animals rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking. It was this work, the communities and the stories that she found there, that, in 2012, inspired her to start a charity named ONCA. Bridging social and environmental justice issues with creativity, ONCA promotes positive change by facilitating inclusive spaces for creative learning, artist support, story-sharing and community solidarity. In 2021, she published her first book The Puma Years, a bestselling memoir about love and kinship on the frontlines of environmental destruction in Bolivia. She now lives on the Isle of Eigg, where she lives and writes by the sea. She has spoken widely at festivals and literary events, and she is an experienced workshop facilitator.