We are Zapotec women from Oaxaca, Mexico, coming together through this project to build safer, more resilient communities. In our region, marked by economic hardship, land dispossession, and one of the highest rates of violence against women, we seek change. With your support, 120 families like ours can improve our quality of life, reduce economic violence, and create collective strength.
Our struggle is urgent: 85% of indigenous women here access only low-paying informal jobs, while many also care for sick or elderly relatives. Beyond these burdens, our communities endure disappearances, femicides, and trafficking. When we try to lift ourselves through small businesses, predatory loans trap us in debt. As global aid shrinks, community-led efforts like ours are vital to ensure women are not left behind.
Since 2017, we have formed feminist artisan cooperatives that provide fair work, economic security, and social support. We prioritize mothers and their children, recognizing women's full realities. Through training, shared spaces, and solidarity, we build sustainable livelihoods while celebrating our cultural heritage. Women-led solutions are breaking cycles of violence and poverty.
Our program has reached 40 cooperatives and 700+ women, building an economy that honors tradition and future. Women strengthen skills, grow businesses, and defend rights with community networks. With your support, we will expand in Santa Maria Mixtequilla and Union Hidalgo, breaking inequality and ensuring women lead with dignity and safety.
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