HOOP has been committed to developing and offering educational services to the Flora Tristan community in Arequipa, Peru since 2012. Our Social Work and Psychology Team provide free education, social, health and psychology services geared towards the mothers living in precarious economic and social situations. By supporting this project you will be helping us to expand the reach of our social work programs and further empower these inspiring women to create transformative change in their lives.
The women in Flora Tristan are constantly exposed to the physical and emotional stress of living in poverty. 84% of the HOOP mums have experienced a traumatic event in their life, such as domestic violence, sexual abuse or child labour without access to adequate support. Their circumstances have frequently disrupted their social network, personal development and education, resulting in social isolation and extremely low employment levels with only 16% having stable, full-time work.
A team of trained social workers and psychologists supports the women with individual counselling and a variety of educational workshops that strengthen their capabilities, social skills, emotional management and self-confidence. These include English lessons, weekly classes to obtain their school certificates, and micro-finance sessions addressing economic stability. The monthly focus areas additionally cover topics like women's health, parenting, organic farming, self-care, IT and nutrition.
Women's empowerment is widely considered the key to long-term development. For the women we work with, that means better employment prospects, improved access to fundamental resources such as health and education, and the strength and self-confidence to build a better future despite their difficult backgrounds. These benefits have a knock-on effect for the children and families of the women taking part in HOOP's programs, and help create a community dedicated to a positive future.
