Dream, write, think, and rethink projects. Mature the idea and start dressing it in reality. Study, share, and receive knowledge. Ask for assistance, provide assistance. Make difficult decisions, take leaps of faith.
The development of female entrepreneurship is just the visible tip of a large preparation process. An entire life can be summarized and reflected in that entrepreneurship, in that transformation of the world and of creating new possible futures.
For over 34 years, Pro Mujer has operated with a holistic model that supports and drives women in everything that happens behind starting a business. Enjoying good health, developing their skills, and accessing financing are driving pillars for women to continue undertaking.
In the context of #WomensHistoryMonth, we are amazed by some of the more than 2.5 million stories of women who have grown with Pro Mujer and who, through their own work, have brought color and dignity to their lives and their surroundings. And, with a campaign through which, via the 120 pieces of content generated we reached 1,327,695 people across all our social networks, and had over 18,000 interactions, we managed to inspire other women to reach their full potential.
From Nicaragua: María Antonia
It is 1985 and María Antonia lives in a precarious area of Latin America in extreme poverty, without support from her family and a recent separation that makes it even more difficult to raise her eight children.
She does laundry and irons for other people and supports her sons and daughters, but never stops dreaming of achieving a better life. With the support of Pro Mujer, everything is about to change: That life will become a reality in just over 30 years.
It is 2023 and Antonia owns a beauty salon that is also an academy, and she supports more women to make their dreams of starting a business come true. Many years ago someone believed in her and that had a transformative power: She managed to train herself, receive financing, and open her own business, changing her life and that of other women in her environment.
From Colombia: María del Pilar
Like a legendary character, everything María del Pilar touches comes to life. An arid land can become a plant sanctuary that attracts all kinds of pollinators; any cutting is the beginning of a fertile plant; the hens cluck happily when they see her.
And a venture that few believed in, now represents the livelihood of her family and the land it stands on: her agroecological farm is sustainable for her, but also for its surroundings and the species that inhabit it.
In the perseverance and entrepreneurial skills that María del Pilar acquired, thanks to Pro Mujer, there lies a potential similar to that of a seed: The potential to create fertile lands where there was no life and to materialize prosperous environments and businesses.
From México: Fátima
In the heart of Yucatan is U Lu’umil Kuxtal, a Mayan site run by an entrepreneur who, when welcoming visitors and members of her community to share ancestral knowledge, leaves an indelible mark on them. In this way, Fátima ensures that her project lives also in the hearts of people.
Her relationship with her mother brought her close to the melipona bees and, thanks to them, strengthened the upbringing of her children. It is the same inspiration that she gets from the bees, with their example of cooperation and community life, that drives her to work toward her dream. In her own words: “Having a community kitchen where people can come, harvest from the garden, take their eggs, and cook their food right here.”
These three thrilling stories were accompanied by a collective effort made by the entire Pro Mujer team, our allies, and the people who joined the audiovisual contest—all to make the campaign a reality.
- With organizations of the caliber of Google, Mercado Libre, Microsoft, VISA, UN Women, ANDE, and 2X Global, along with 23 others, we made a special edition of our institutional newsletter in which they shared their projects and initiatives in favor of equality, women’s rights, and gender lens investing. To learn more and read the articles, click here.
- What do women entrepreneurs in Latin America look like? We wanted to approach what could be a response by calling on our followers from different countries with a photography and video contest. We received material from over 60 people from Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, and we chose 10 winners. Check out their work here!
- And March marks our anniversary! It’s been 34 years since we became Pro Mujer, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank the people who turned a dream into an inspiring project that continues to grow alongside the women it supports: to the more than two and a half million Latin American women who have trusted our organization, to the allies who have believed in our purpose, and to the 23 countries that have welcomed us and have become the perfect stage to transform the future of women in Latin America.
- Tips for entrepreneurship, success stories of female entrepreneurs, recommended readings, figures to reflect on… all of these contents were part of our campaign, and you can find them on our social media.
Women’s month is over, but from Pro Mujer we will not stop highlighting the knowledge, ideas and passionsb that, when materialized, have the potential to expand the well-being and sustainable development of entire communities.
They are our mobilizing force and thanks to the incredible support we have received from our allies, we have been able to support more than 2.5 million women to reach their full potential.