Empowering Women in Rural Arequipa, Peru

Syneida moved to Arequipa two years ago and joined HOOP shortly thereafter. It was a difficult transition; she felt very alone and isolated in a new town, surrounded by people she didn’t know. On top of that, her husband worked long hours and was often away from home. Joining HOOP offered Syneida an opportunity to meet and befriend the other mothers: “Before I got here, I didn’t know how to begin starting a new life for myself… I’m very grateful to this institution because it has helped me to love myself more.”

Raised in a strict household, as an adult, Syneida is one of the most creative moms, always proposing new ideas and encouraging the other mothers to speak to one another. “HOOP helped me to be more open... [Before], I spent my days crying at home. I had no one; I had no friends. I was afraid to go out but my life changed when I joined HOOP.”

Even though Syneida finds comfort in her newfound friendships, she retains a firm belief that women should also be able to take care of themselves: “Most of my friends don’t have a husband by their side, and my husband has a heart condition, so I should figure out what I am going to do when he is not here anymore. I want to learn…for the sake of my independence. If I break a chair, for example, I don’t want to wait for a man to come and repair it, because I can do it by myself.”