Gender Equality Mexico Project #40186

Empower women through education!

by Cordem ABP

Project Report | Mar 2, 2026
Education and 25 Years of Transformation for Women

By Sahara Calderon | Institutional development leader

Beneficiaries on the 25th Anniversary

Education, Community, and 25 Years of Transformation

Over the past months, CORDEM has reached a historic milestone: celebrating 25 years of empowering women through our unique model of integral education and emotional support. This period has been characterized by deep reflection on our social impact, the strengthening of our community bonds, and the successful launch of a new academic cycle focused on resilience and goal-setting.

NOVEMBER | Celebrating 25 Years of Strengthening Lives

25th Anniversary Event: "Fortaleciendo vidas, construyendo comunidad" On November 6, we gathered at the Instituto Nuevo Amanecer to celebrate a quarter-century of impact. With over 150 attendees, including donors, graduates, and allies, the event was a powerful reminder that education is the key to a more humane and equitable future. Our founder, Yolanda Lozano, reaffirmed that the true investment lies in the human being and the courage to pursue dreams.

Impact Measurement: "Trayectorias que Transforman" A highlight of the anniversary was the presentation of our impact study, developed with the support of volunteers from Boston Consulting Group. This study proved that our model—combining scholarships with psycho-emotional accompaniment—generates lasting changes:

Academic Persistence: Emotional support is the "safety net" that prevents dropouts during personal crises.
Labor Transition: Graduates show a clear path toward formal employment and better life quality.
Empowerment: 90% of participants report significant growth in self-esteem and the ability to set healthy boundaries.

Commemorative Book: “Aprendí a amarme” We launched a book featuring 25 testimonies of resilience. These stories serve as a legacy of healing, showing how our therapeutic processes transform individual pain into collective strength.

DECEMBER | Closing Cycles and Lighting Paths

Semester Closing: "Community that Accompanies" We closed the Autumn 2025 semester with a meaningful session. Guided by our therapy team, students engaged in a "Creative Challenge," representing their year through collective art. The highlight was our traditional Candle Ritual, where graduates shared their light and wisdom with new students, symbolizing that in CORDEM, "no woman walks alone."

Luztopía: Lighting Community Hope We participated in the lighting of "Luztopía," an iconic regional event. Supported by local influencers, we amplified our mission, reminding the community that when we organize and join forces, education opens paths and life flourishes.

JANUARY | New Beginnings and Sustainable Alliances

Spring 2026 Semester Opening We welcomed our scholarship recipients with workshops designed to set clear purposes. Through activities like the "Achievement Tree" and "Vision Boards," women visualized their academic and personal goals. Additionally, the "Letter to my Future Self" exercise provided them with a therapeutic tool to find empathy and confidence during challenging times of the semester.

"Your Change Changes Stories" Campaign In collaboration with MERCO Supermarkets, we launched a fundraising campaign (January 30 – May 28). This initiative allows the general public to contribute small donations that directly sustain our Scholarship and Emotional Accompaniment Programs.

Honoring Legacies We remembered our co-founder, Norma Leticia Perez Csitkovits, whose vision 25 years ago remains the heartbeat of our organization. Her legacy lives on in every woman who achieves autonomy through our program.

Every activity during this period reminds us that transformation begins with opportunity and accompaniment. At CORDEM, we remain committed to providing women with the tools, confidence, and support they need to build a better future.

Thank you for walking alongside us—together, we are shaping a world of equality and hope.

Beneficiaries on the 25th Anniversary

Semester closing event

Candel ritual of CORDEM

Beginning of semester event 2026

Links:

Web site

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Jun 20, 2025
Education, Equality, and Community in Action!

By Sahara Calderon S. | Institutional Development Leader

Trevino Elizondo Foundation visits CORDEM offices.

During the first months of 2025, CORDEM has continued to strengthen its commitment to the development of women through education and emotional support. This quarter, our activities reflected how, when a woman gains access to real opportunities, she not only transforms her own life but also the lives of those around her.

FEBRUARY | Inspiring Careers, Honoring Journeys

We began the year with a powerful celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, where our scholarship recipients in STEM fields shared their experiences and the challenges they face in a field still shaped by gender stereotypes. Evelyn, Ariana, and Ximena emphasized the importance of believing in oneself, breaking down biases, and becoming role models for other women who dream of a future in science and technology.

We also took part in a very special evening during the Wine Tasting and Sensory Experience organized by U-ERRE, where we received recognition for our educational impact in the community. It was a moment of connection and gratitude that strengthened our partnerships and reminded us that we continue to transform lives through education.

MARCH | Movement, Awareness, and Visibility

March was marked by the collective energy of Move for Her, an event organized by students of the American School Foundation of Monterrey (ASFM) to raise awareness and funds for our cause. Thanks to dedicated coaches, allies, and sponsors, we experienced a morning full of connection and purpose.

Honoring International Women's Day (8M), we facilitated the workshop “There Is No Equality Without Mental Health” at Best Ingredients—an important space for reflection on emotional well-being, diversity, and more human-centered work cultures. Additionally, we were recognized by the Ministry of Equality and Inclusion of Nuevo León as one of the selected civil society organizations in their Annual Investment call, reaffirming the relevance and value of our model.

APRIL | Leading with Purpose, Growing from the Roots

In April, we launched our spring semester training with the workshop “Organization as a Foundation for Leadership”, where our scholarship recipients explored the connection between self-awareness, emotional skills, and the ability to lead with clarity and empathy.

We also welcomed representatives from the Treviño Elizondo Foundation, one of CORDEM’s longstanding allies. In a heartfelt space of dialogue, we shared the core of our mission and the progress of our Comprehensive Scholarship Program.

Each activity reaffirms the foundation of our approach: women not only need access to quality education, but also to spaces where they can rebuild confidence, heal their stories, and envision new possibilities.

From this holistic perspective, emotional support, the development of socioemotional skills and the opportunity to become agents of change are all part of the driving force behind every woman who becomes part of CORDEM.

¡Thank you for walking alongside us and making this social transformation possible—one story at a time!

Selected in the Annual Investment call.

Workshop at Best Ingredients (8M)

CORDEM receives recognition for educational impact

Links:

Website

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Jul 12, 2023
Spring 2023 Semester Report

By Andrea Teran | Development Director

We are pleased to present the Spring 2023 Semester Report, showcasing our commitment to empowering women through our Comprehensive Scholarship Program. This report highlights the closing of the application period, the graduation ceremony and our ongoing efforts to provide quality academical and educational opportunities in order to break gender barriers in Mexico.

Scholarship Program Highlights

In Spring 2023 we received an inmense response from over 50 women interested in joining our Comprehensive Scholarship Program. Our focus was set on empowering middle-high school students and supporting them throughout their full academic journey (from middle-high school to university). We also prioritized profiles of women studying STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), aiming to address the gender disparity in these fields and also considering the increase in job opportunities of this areas, which will translate into a positive social mobility to the future graduates. Shockingly, only three out of ten STEM professionals in Mexico are women. (IMCO, 2021)

Strengthening through workshops at yCo.

As part of our commitment to lifelong learning, we continue to strengthen our NGO through workshops at yCo. In the period of 2023-2024 we will focus on fundraising strategies, leadership skills development, and monitoring and evaluation of our programs. Our collaboration with experts and consultants, using a model tailored for civil society organizations, will further enhance our growth at different organizational levels

End-of-Semester Event:

The Spring 2023 end-of-semester event was an unforgettable experience. We celebrated the graduation of five talented scholarship recipients and concluded the semester with a highly successful sales workshop led by Yolanda Sánchez, a valuable volunteer and donor of CORDEM for more than 20 years.

Invaluable Benefactor Participation: We express our gratitude to our social investors: FRISA Foundation, DeAcero Foundation, the Secretary of Equality and Inclusion (state Government) and Mor Transportation. Their presence at the event was invaluable and allowed them with a firsthand opportunity to witness the impact of their generous donations. The integration group, representing the youngest generation of our Comprehensive Scholarship Program, organized a heartwarming activity that highlighted the significance of the experience

Special Acknowledgment: We extend a special recognition to U-ERRE for their crucial support in providing the facilities for our event. Their contribution has been key in the success of this years' events. Thank you, U-ERRE!

We are proud of the progress we have made in empowering women and breaking gender stereotypes. By providing educational opportunities and fostering upward social mobility, we aim to inspire and motivate more women to pursue careers in STEM and continue their integral development. Thank you all for being part of this transformative journey of empowerment.

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