July 2024: In Colombia, a project called “Women with a Soul” is currently developing in the village of Santa Teresa, in the eastern part of Antioquia. The objective is to strengthen socio-emotional capacities in the women as the basis for the strengthening of family relationships and the development of rural entrepreneurship processes in the area.
In the village of Santa Teresa in the Municipality of Rionegro, Antioquia there are more than 500 families, 80% of whom belong to strata 1, 2 and 3, with low economic income and unsatisfied basic needs.
Among its main problems are: a macho culture, problems of alcoholism, in some cases domestic violence, school dropouts, conflicts between families, unemployment, the growing consumption of psychoactive substances in young people and adults.
The village has many opportunities for growth such as the Community Action Board that works for the development of its inhabitants, the rural school that is financed by the Secretary of Education and a group of women that for 4 years has been advancing in processes of empowerment and personal growth, some of them have managed to consolidate processes of entrepreneurship and financial autonomy (this with the support of social entities such as ICDP Colombia and Fundación Club Campestre).
This project “Women with Soul” seeks to strengthen and give continuity to the effort and commitment of some women in the village who have managed to develop socio-emotional skills and leadership, strengthen their family relationships and consolidate enterprises.
The project allows multiplying the experience of women like Mercedes Carvajal, who through the Alma Botánica entrepreneurship and with the support of ICDP Colombia want to impact other women in the area, giving continuity to the training and personal growth processes.
The beneficiaries of the project are 20 women, from the village of Santa Teresa in the Municipality of Rionegro, between 25 and 60 years of age, The women are illiterate or with low schooling, they are economically dependent on men, and they are dedicated to domestic work including the upbringing of children and grandchildren. All have available land to produce home gardens, crops and other uses in favour of self-consumption and entrepreneurship.
In this project, the community contributes the soil, its ancestral knowledge for the development of productive projects and the experiences of clean production with organic fertilizers, such as bocashi, for the care of nature and protection of the natural reserve in which they live.
The ICDP Colombia Foundation has joined this project by contributing its knowledge to improve family relationships through the implementation of the ICDP programme. Three ICDP volunteers who accompany this community. Abel Salazar, ICDP trainer, is overseeing the work.