Resilience: Calicanto’s Secret Sauce
#genderequality #sustainablelivelihoods
Like to so many other organizations globally, 2020 represents a year of great challenges but also incredible opportunities for Calicanto. As a result of the COVID19 crisis, Panama established strict sanitary restrictions reducing social and physical mobility by 80%. Since this measure limited the continuation of the face-to-face execution methodology of the CAPTA Program (Training for Work), the foundation rapidly began working on alternatives to continue the implementation of the program. Meanwhile, the team worked directly on assisting 332 former graduates on issues that would help them cope with and counteract the effects of the health crisis.
By the end of August, the foundation had managed to pilot the new version of the CAPTA Program under the virtual modality. This adaptation has allowed the continuity of the program and the inclusion of more beneficiaries, approximately a 45% increase. Through CAPTA Relief and the support of the French Embassy we were also able to reconnect with the program's graduates to implement a new program called CAPTA Ambassadors, part of our follow-up program Conexiones.
According to the United Nations Development Program, Latin America will experience the most severe economic recession in decades due to COVID19. Most countries in the region are at risk of losing two decades of progress in the fight against poverty and inequality. The foundation seizes this unique opportunity of adapting the CAPTA Program through which it can continue to fight poverty and reduce the social gaps towards access and economic opportunity.
Our Program’s Evolution
Our 2020 Impact
So far this year we have directly benefited 506 women through our programs through the support of international and local partners.Through the implementation this year of three CAPTAs, we will have 86 new CAPTA graduates. They will continue their personal and professional journey to be ambassadors of the program and agents of change in their communities.
What we know
The public health crisis and social isolation have amplified the uncertainty, placing many women's livelihoods at risk. With the appearance of COVID19, we have observed the emergence of three variant at-risk population that:
What we have done
Our plans for 2021
Thanks to our partners and donors we have started to fundraise towards next year. For this #GivingTuesday we are seeking to continue to raise funds to be able to implement our 2021's strategy to continue to fight poverty and educate women in Panama through:
We have been working non stop since Covid-19 striked us in march. As many other non profits, our first response was to help as many of our beneficiaries as possible. We educated, gave emotional and monetary support to the ones in most need, but our goal was to keep doing what we do best: Change lives through our educational program.
That was something we had been planning before Covid-19, how to reach as many women as possible and how to do it in an easy and accessible way?
Thanks to these uncertain times, we focused like never before and finally we have created a program that is 100% virtual and structured to give tools to all those women who have an entrepreneurial mindset to give them the tools they need to reach their goals and economic stability.
It hasn't been easy, the digital gap in our country is very real and we had to think out of the box to overcome that obstacle.
We are starting a new challenge and we wanted to share this great news with you, this wouldn't be possible without your support.
Also we have been receiving support from companies and small businesses who want to give back to the community.
In the last few weeks we delivered more Gift Cards for grocery shopping, our beneficiaries had a sweet treat in the form of delicious cookies and face masks from Wellys Kitchen and also received brand new sneakers from Adidas and Reebook.
We won't stop:
-We kept our vow to give tools to women to become financially independent and we started a program with 6 beneficiaries to make face masks for sale in collaboration with Fundamorgan.
-We had been working in alliance with almost 30 non profit organizations in a shared effort to collect funds in a campaign denominated #RecuperaPanama (Recover Panama)
-We are giving 2 weekly sessions of Espacio Positivo, trough Zoom and IG live
All of these efforts wouldn't be possible without your support, we want to thank you for believing in our cause and being part of the change in the lives of panamanian women.
The last time we submitted a report we spoke about our primary response to the Covid-19, our plan was still in the making because we were, as many, figuring out where our support was needed.
A lot has changed since the beginning of the pandemic and now we are stronger and working harder than ever before.
We achieved a lot of goals in april:
And because not everything is work, we had a virtual baby shower, to celebrate a new baby in our family. We are excited and can't wait for those baby pictures!
We often hear that when you go through difficult times is when you see human nature at its finest, today we can confirm that. We are working closer than ever to achieve our goals, our board is involved in every action to support our work and our beneficiaries are showing us beautiful lessons about humility and always lending a helping hand to others.
The pandemic may have changed the world and we knew it, now we have the chance to make it more human, equal and peaceful.
Thanks to your support, we are very thankful to have the chance to keep working and do something that changes lives.
A lot has changed since our last report. Not only in Panama, in the whole world.
What seemed to be a new disease that was affecting a few countries rapidly spreaded across the 5 continents.
Panama is a developing country, we were not ready for something like this but we had to quickly adapt in order to continue doing our job helping women in vulnerable situations.
Today the country is in strict quarantine due to the lack of attention from the public.
We got 558 cases and the numbers are going up quickly.
We had to rearrange our whole plan and start going digital, in order to support and educate these women and their families about the importance of basic hygiene and staying home as much a posible.
It was a bittersweet moment, because we were about to graduate 26 CAPTA beneficiaries, the spirits were high and all of a sudden everything changed.
We didn't got a chance to say “see you soon”, or give a last hug; we owned the situation and handled it with the strength and support that our beneficiaries needed.
We quickly set up a hotline for emotional support, and started a social media campaign in order to support and educate.
We are currently using tools like instagram to connect live with our audience and talk about our emotions, with the guidance of our psychologists.
Also as a non-profit we are working to connect all of our beneficiaries with the different programs our government is implementing to help all the people that are directly or indirectly affected by this situation.
As the situation develops we plan to run a food program to support the ones in need and collaborate with similar efforts.
This is the moment when we have to show the best we got and work together to get through this time supporting the ones who need it the most. Solidarity is our new economy!
After having successfully completed the first five weeks of the Fundamental Cycle of the CAPTA Program, 28 strong women manage to move on to the Vocational Cycle where, in teacher Victorino`s words: “GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION. This is the motto that keep you motivated to move forward to stand firm in the face of adversity and keep in mind your purposes.”
The Beginning of CAPTA 53 represented for some a dream to fulfill, for others a new hope, for some a new challenge and sacrifice but all agreed that CAPTA is a new opportunity to learn, improve, find themselves, continue growing and reaching that economic and emotional autonomy they need to get ahead.
No effort was spared, all had given their best and through the classes of Emotional Intelligence, conflict management, self-confidence, leadership, personal image, acting among others. They have been working on their purposes and we have seen these women strive firmly to learn and fulfill their tasks responsibly, improve their communication and draw strength from fears.
Undoubtedly, the first weeks become a school of life, allowing day-to-day strengthening and developing the social skills necessary in all living together, becoming more aware of the importance of physical and mental health, setting goals and expanding their preparatory technical skills to Job search.
Today, in this new stage, they get ready to know and develop skills in the technical vocational area, training as kitchen assistants and waitresses. Happy to have fulfilled their first goal and to start this second with renewed forces and their eyes set on that purpose, which they mentioned and have embraced since their first day at CAPTA.
Rilan, a 37-year-old woman with 5 children and who lives in Curundú, shares that CAPTA has changed her life, has learned that the attitude can open doors but also close doors and that she has made the decision to be a better person, mother and woman .
“My biggest change has been my attitude and rebellion, it was not positive. But now even if it's not perfect, I'm looking to be a better person every day because, selfishness is a darkness that keeps you in the shadows ” Rilan.
We wish Success for all in this new stage!
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