This text is part of the special edition Solidarité internationale
To increase women’s self-esteem and reduce gender inequality in Guatemala, the Center for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) implemented a digital training program on female empowerment. And according to members of the international cooperation organization, the formula is a success.
“A few months ago, I learned about the Florece program, which exceeded my expectations, testifies the Guatemalan entrepreneur Flor Mirella Amperez Alonzo in a voice message. Each module brought me a lot of learning and reflection, and allowed me to change areas of my personal life. For me, Florece is an opportunity to fully support all women. »
Flor Mireilla Amperez Alonzo is one of the Guatemalan women beneficiaries of the Florece program available in women’s cooperatives since 2021. The program consists of a series of modules containing video training on themes such as self-esteem, assertive communication, leadership , solidarity, the cooperative system and female entrepreneurship.
If entrepreneurship allows economic autonomy and the emancipation of women, they must first believe in themselves more so that their project can go forward, observes Cindy de León, volunteer advisor for economic development women for CECI. It is she who is at the origin of the project.
“How can a women’s enterprise survive if the woman is not empowered? she exclaims. We had to take a step forward for women, since many do not believe they are capable of building a business or a project. With the challenges of machismo, lack of self-esteem, inequality between people, how can women be trained in entrepreneurship without touching on these basic themes? »
Focus on digital
Women can follow face-to-face training with small groups organized by women’s cooperatives, once or twice a week, or at their own pace on the Internet. Within the cooperatives, training is given to small groups of about ten women, who can carry out exercises and discuss among themselves the concepts covered during the courses. When given once a week, the courses are spread over approximately three months.
The concepts are covered through short training videos, accessible on a Web platform developed by the CECI team. The trainings also include testimonials, such as that of a woman with cancer, to talk about themes such as resilience. “We must try to have new opportunities related to technology”, believes Mme de León, who believes that the use of digital technologies thus makes it possible to reach a wider audience, on a national scale.
” The answer [des femmes] was incredible, these are things that we never told them, “remarks Mme of Leon. After the training, women said that they would no longer take care of raising children on their own. “Since the pandemic, women have been more isolated than ever, it is important to strengthen the female community fabric to move forward,” she opines.
An inclusive action
“Everywhere in Guatemala, there is a lot of discrimination with regard to access to education,” adds Arnaud Deharte, project manager for CECI Guatemala. The idea is to support the person who wants to undertake and generate their own work and income. The challenge of the program [Florece], is to ensure that the most discriminated against women have access to this type of program. »
In Guatemala, programs aimed at strengthening women’s entrepreneurship exist, but there was a lack of a gateway for the most vulnerable people to have access to them, according to Arnaud Deharte. “We mainly work with indigenous women and young women living in rural areas, continues the expert, who adds that the structural obstacles restricting access to entrepreneurship were identified in the literature to create the Florece program. »
The project was carried out in cooperation with various partners, such as a regional university, organizations working with cooperatives and volunteer cooperators in the field. “This cooperative work allows us to reach tens of thousands of people who would otherwise be inaccessible,” says the expert. Currently in its pilot phase, the Florece program should benefit more than 400 Guatemalan women.
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