At Pro Mujer, we are well aware of the leading role played by the entrepreneurs who graduate from our training program Emprende Pro Mujer. Cristina Olmos and the women’s family cooperative “Dii Zaallil” from Zaachila, Oaxaca, had the opportunity to showcase their talent and skills during the third edition of Impact Minds: Beyond Frontiers organized by the social investment network Latimpacto from September 9 to 12 in Oaxaca.
The experience “Living Memories: “Tradition in pottery and cooking with Oaxacan entrepreneurs” aimed to bring conference attendees closer to the ceramic and culinary traditions that characterize the region, through the hands of Cristina and the Dii Zaallil cooperative, who rescue ancestral knowledge as a means of livelihood.
The first part of the activity involved each participant molding their own piece of clay and learning the process behind this ancient technique in Mexico. Cristina, who owns a pottery workshop along with her daughters and son, led this immersive experience, highlighting the knowledge passed down from generation to generation.
At lunchtime, the participants had the opportunity to witness the preparation of traditional Oaxacan mole by Dii Zaallil, a women’s cooperative composed of Leticia, Porfiria, Andrea, Alba, and Amelia. They specialize in roasting gourmet beans, preserving the artisanal process by using a clay griddle and wood fire to create their products. Each participant had the chance to taste typical dishes from the region and learn about the techniques used in their preparation.
This combination of art, gastronomy and culture was a reflection of the deep bond between the land and the people who keep these traditions alive. As Leticia said during her participation: “I believe that the purpose of knowledge is to share, and that is where its value lies.” For Leticia, working in the cooperative with her mother and sisters is an opportunity to preserve the wisdom of her ancestors. For Cristina and her children, their pottery workshop means honoring the memory of her husband and father-in-law, who dedicated to crafting pottery for many years before passing away.
The experience included the participation of Carmen Correa, CEO of Pro Mujer; Natasha Ferrari, Global Communications Manager, and Abedul Herrera, Manager of Alliances and Projects in Mexico. We were also joined by representatives from partner organizations such as Deetken Impact, Mercado Libre, and Cemefi.
“When I have the privilege of learning more about the stories of these amazing entrepreneurs more deeply, I feel incredibly inspired and reaffirm that what we do at Pro Mujer makes sense,” said Carmen Correa about the experience. “We certainly couldn’t do this without our unconditional allies, such as Mercado Libre, Deetken Impact, Google, and many others.”
The participation of the entrepreneurs in this space for reflection and learning aligns with the mission of Impact Minds: bringing key players from the global social impact ecosystem closer to innovative solutions that promote sustainable development. Pro Mujer is a proud member of the Latimpacto network and promotes gender lens investing as an effective mechanism to advance toward equality and catalyze economic growth in the region.
