In the rural Indigenous community of Los Morales, a remarkable group of women gather weekly to learn, grow, and transform their lives.
The Los Morales Women’s Group, comprised of 14 dedicated members, is a shining example of how centering community voices can lead to profound change.
The journey began in 2022 when the women of Los Morales learned about Natün’s catalyzing programs from a neighboring community. Inspired and eager to write their own success story, the women approached Yessica, Natün’s Trade Schools Program Coordinator. Ready to collaborate with Natün, they asked to participate in courses on artisan skills, financial management, and entrepreneurship. However, due to resource and staff limitations, Natün’s alliance with the Los Morales group was delayed for a year.
The Power of Community
Yessica and her team recognized the immense potential in the Los Morales Women’s group. “Working closely with community members sets programs up for success,” Yessica explains.
In 2024, more than a year of anticipation, Natün began to work together with the Los Morales women’s group. The approach of Natün’s Economic Development department, following the women’s previous requests, was threefold and comprehensive. As a part of Natün’s Trade Schools, 14 women now receive artisan supplies and weekly advanced embroidery technique workshops held in the welcoming home of a group member.
Their enthusiasm has led Natün to extend into workshops covering a wide range of topics, from leadership skills, to entrepreneurial capacity building and financial management, including saving practices. Additionally, advanced women entrepreneurs have been identified and are currently in the process of receiving micro-loans.
“It is exciting to work with this community and hear them say ‘okay, what’s next?’, their enthusiasm to learn and be successful is so real, so visible,’’ Yessica comments about the Los Morales group. By listening to the women’s voices and prioritizing their needs, Yessica demonstrates the power of centering community voices in program implementation.
Overcoming Barriers, Together
Among the women’s group are four sisters—Olga, Blanca, Aura, and Marta—who work in artisan crafts weaving traditional clothing. They attend the workshops to expand their knowledge and increase their earning potential. In many communities, artisan skills like hand embroidery are often closely guarded due to fears of competition. The sisters find comfort and support in the group’s mutual exchange of knowledge and positivity.
Blanca explains, “It’s important for women to participate in community leadership,” but barriers exist. The sisters often invite friends and community members to join the workshops, but rigid gender norms and societal pressures often hinder women’s involvement. Blanca explains that many women are not permitted to participate, manage money, or make independent decisions.
Despite these challenges, the Los Morales Women’s Group perseveres. Yessica notes that the group primarily consists of señoritas (young women) who are challenging norms and embracing empowerment.
Blanca: Leading by Example
Blanca and her sisters have already experienced the transformative effects of the workshop’s teachings. When their mother fell ill unexpectedly, the sisters utilized the savings generated in Natün’s program to cover emergency medical expenses, avoiding the need for burdensome loans. This newfound financial stability is a testament to the group’s impact and the women’s transformation.
Yessica explains that as women continue to grow and apply their newly developed skills, they become role models for family members and neighbors, demonstrating that women can be leaders, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers. Yessica continues, “seeing women in courses and in savings groups, is so empowering, demonstrating to themselves that it is possible and that women can be the decision makers of their own lives’’.
By centering community voices, and co-creating solutions, Natün fosters spaces where women can thrive. This approach not only fosters the growth of local capacity but also strengthens the entire community.
