Women economic empowerment for earthquake relief

After a year of the pandemic we continue working on how to bring tools for economic empowerment to the women affected by the earthquake. This means that even as organizations we’ve had to be open to learn the lessons of these times and learn how to adapt. In the last few months, we recognize the challenges and needs of CreCe in a digital form and have taken the time to sit with each other to discuss what changes are needed to provide tools and benefit more women. 

One of the biggest challenges we’ve identified is the low digital connectivity of the region affected by the earthquake. Our original methodology of Personal Initiative and Development of entrepreneurial skills in a digital form requires a high level of connectivity and despite the efforts, and training groups of women in bigger towns, the required format of a long course on a digital format was leaving many women outside the CreCe program. 

That is why in recognition of the context and the uncertain times of an in-person training program the organizations working in CreCe: CREA, Una Mano para Oaxaca, Comunidades Campesinas, Fundación Comunitaria Oaxaca have come together to redefine ways to adapt to the circumstances of the women we want to support. As organizations we agree that the original methodologies in the context of the region are better done in person, however we also know there is a need for training and learning. 

Our proposal then is to adapt, in the meantime, a new methodology of 9 hours in financial education. We will work with leaders in the community and provide training sessions in community centers with all the necessary measures, to improve the digital connectivity gap. This allows women in the region of Oaxaca to acquire the tools, now needed more than before, for their economic empowerment and autonomy. And once the circumstances allow for an in-person training format, to continue the original methodologies. We are grateful to everyone (women and organizations) for their openness to adapt according to the necessities of these times.