In the municipalities of Ayata, Chuma and Aucapata, in the Province of Muñecas, Bosco Global is developing the "Deconstructing inequality on behalf of the rights of indigenous women in the province of Muñecas", a project that also enjoys the support of the "Generalitat Valenciana", the government institutions of the Valencian Autonomous Community, in Spain.
Thanks to the work of the local partner organisation of Bosco Global, the "Machaqa Amawta" foundation, and the collaboration of the Federation of "Bartolina Sisa" Indigenous Peasant Women in the Province of Muñecas, two training workshops were organised in February: one on "Leadership, self-care and social spaces" and the other on "Shared responsibility in the home".
This process involved women from the municipalities of Ayata, Chuma and Aucapata, reaching 80 women leaders who are authorities in their traditional indigenous communities. The topics were addressed respecting their context, their customs and their culture, but trying to deconstruct some stereotypes towards women regarding self-esteem and self-care that they themselves now perceive as inherent to their situation.
"We registered active participation in the proposed workshops by the participants. They have shown great interest and now have high expectations of being able to collect and learn all the input provided to now take them to their communities where, due to the patriarchal cultural model they have inherited, many of them have not had opportunities for professional or technological development, and see their role reduced to taking care of household chores, livestock or the gardens of their homes", testified Álvaro Meruvia, technician of the" Machaqa Amawta "foundation.
Training in leadership, self-care and social spaces contributes to their role as leaders and their participation within communities, strengthening their self-esteem and social skills for the formation of future generations, promoting emancipation and female solidarity among the participating women.
At the same time, the workshop on shared responsibility at home, carried out with women leaders and their partners or families, was oriented towards active participation, through analysis and reflection by participants. Starting from their cultural and social situations, they analysed the role that each person plays in their families and communities, in order to identify and correct unjust and abusive attitudes resulting from deep-rooted customs and prejudices.
Finally, in addition to the training activities, the participants were also equipped to establish a "self-care space" in the Municipality of Aucapata, in the presence of the Autonomous Municipal Government of Aucapata and the "Bartolina Sisa" and "Tupaj Katari" social organisations. The mayor of Aucapata expressed his gratitude for the support received and stressed the importance of the "Bartolina Sisa" organisation in the community.
Source: Salesianos.info
