On September 23, 2020, the empowerment process of 20 women began in the Nueva Esperanza neighborhood in Atacames. The project «Rural Women and Local Management without Gender-Based Violence» is financed thanks to the Diputación de Málaga in Spain and the Raíz Foundation Ecuador. Its implementation depends on the organization Paz y Desarrollo in coordination with the Casitas Emergentes de Bambú (CAEMBA) project and the Lunita Lunera Foundation.
This is the second professional skills course that will take place at the Women’s Entrepreneurship House in the Nueva Esperanza neighborhood in Atacames. Over six months, a course in hairdressing and aesthetics will be taught to build capacities and promote the financial independence of the 20 women. The course will also include content on Human Rights and financial education from a feminist perspective.
Opening of the course
On the day of the course inauguration, María Elena Alconchel from Paz y Desarrollo addressed the women in an optimistic and motivating tone: «You are builders, with dreams and bravery. We understand the complicated situations you face in the neighborhood, at home, and personally. We can overcome these difficulties with tools and methodologies to prevent violence,» she expressed.
On his part, Falete from Lunita Lunera mentioned, «They will receive training on human rights issues, responses to gender-based violence, and how to have community impact.»
Carlos Cagua, a community promoter, stated that throughout the course, women will receive financial education from a feminist perspective, «so that beneficiaries know how to manage the money generated from the work they will have.»
Alconchel added that the women «will, on one hand, become community promoters to have violence-free neighborhoods and homes. We are also aware of the importance of the productive process because without means to eat and move forward, it is difficult to work in this process in the neighborhood.»
Community leader Jina Márquez showed her support for this new course. «We hope that with this project, we can take advantage of not being at home doing nothing. This will serve us to have economic support and thus project ourselves,» she noted.
Rebirth of Nueva Esperanza
In this way, hope is reborn for 20 women who are willing to change their lives and those of their families. They are not afraid of new challenges and are willing to learn new skills that will help them modify their life patterns, often surrounded by intrafamily violence that is repeated from generation to generation.
From now on, they have the opportunity to build capacities and sustainable livelihoods, thanks to a profession that will allow them to support their families, open horizons that provide them with security, and gain acceptance in their social, family, and cultural environment in which they live every day.
Fundación Raíz Ecuador and CAEMBA appreciate the participation and work of the aforementioned organizations, which make the implementation of this comprehensive course possible.
