Women: Power of Life Program

Posted 
on Jan 13, 2016
 
 
 

In response to problems in rural communities in the Rivera of Chapala (poverty, marginalization of women, domestic violence & women's lack of access to economic resources and information about reproductive rights)  The Women: Power of Life program will support the empowerment & development of women in these communities. The program offers specialized training in women's health & well-being, promotes equality and gender rights, and gives women resources for them to improve their personal growth and economic development.

The mission is to break down emotional & cultural barriers that hold women back, to educate them to be holistically healthy and to equip them to make good decisions and lead self-sufficient lives.

Groups of women from marginalized communities will be assembled, 15-25 per group

There are various locations in Lake Chapala region; each program meets in one specific community with one group of women.

The project length is nine months (60 sessions in total, one 2-3 hour session per week

Core Topics:

  • Sexual & Reproductive Health includes sessions on family planning, cancer & STD prevention, health & hygiene, sexuality & gender beliefs, sex education, birth control.
  • Women's Rights & Domestic Violence Prevention includes sessions on gender equity, women's rights, violence prevention.
  • Productive Projects facilitating sustainable income generation & entrepreneurial goal-setting includes sessions on natural medicine & plant extracts, therapeutic massage, manufacturing of natural products, sustainable gardening, creating a business & cooperative model.
  • Women's Circles facilitating self-esteem and support models includes sessions on circles of women, self-esteem, women's bodies/wisdom, motivational skills, health habits, nutrition & mindfulness
  • Women's Circles  includes sessions on emotional support, empowerment, self-esteem.

A pilot project of the program was successfully completed in 2014 with 18 women in Chapala over a nine-month period, which resulted in women creating circles of support and many of the women creating their own projects which helped them earn money and move toward financial independence. As a result of the success of the program, there is  a waiting list of women in the region, who are interested in attending the next available programs.

Projected budget is 180,000 pesos ($10,000 USD) per group.

Long-term Program goals:

  • Secure funding for implementation of 1 to 3 program groups in 2016
  • Secure funding for implementation of 2 to 3 program groups in 2017
  • Have programs be self-sustainable by end of year 2018 (through various means - financial input of participants/alumni of program & via collaboration with other foundations/funding sources).