On Tuesday, September 8, 2020, 17 women graduated from a sewing and tailoring course at the Women’s Entrepreneurship House in the Nueva Esperanza neighborhood in Atacames. This achievement has been made possible thanks to the proactive and dedicated work of the Raíz Foundation Ecuador and its CAEMBA project.
On that day, the 17 women received their graduation certificates and also received a training session to put into practice everything they had learned. This will help them to start their own businesses autonomously and lead a sustainable and financially stable lifestyle.
The Raíz Foundation is proud of the achievement of these women, who have faced constant discrimination due to macho attitudes and labor exclusion in their environment. That is why the training sessions will continue permanently at the Women’s Entrepreneurship House.
New Training Program
Starting from September 21, 2020, a group of 20 women will be trained in a beauty and aesthetics course. This will be made possible thanks to the funding provided by the Paz y Desarrollo organization. The course will equip them with skills to start their own businesses and lead sustainable lifestyles thereafter.
Comprehensive Solution: One Neighborhood at a Time
The Raíz Foundation implements comprehensive solutions through targeted intervention under the concept of «one neighborhood at a time», so that this work can then be replicated in other neighborhoods with similar characteristics of vulnerability, marginalization, and extreme poverty. That is why the Raíz Foundation Ecuador and its CAEMBA project have been working since June 2019 in the Nueva Esperanza or «La Trece» neighborhood in the Atacames canton.
There, more than 80 bamboo houses have been built, along with the Women’s Entrepreneurship House, where we aim to build capacities so that women who are family leaders can be trained in cutting and sewing techniques to then start businesses, seek employment, or partner with other women in the neighborhood and lead sustainable lifestyles.
New courses in cutting and sewing techniques, beauty, and cooking are planned to be provided so that more women can join society positively and independently, thus being able to support their families. It is also planned to train men in trades such as electricity, plumbing, and mechanics.