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March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. It's also a time to reflect on women's challenges and the progress that still needs to be made toward gender equality. At UPAVIM, empowering women is at the heart of our mission. We are a women's cooperative based in Guatemala City that provides employment opportunities and education to women in our community.
UPAVIM was founded in the early 1990s by women who wanted to create a sustainable way to support their families and their community. Today, we have over 60 women working in our cooperative, making handmade crafts and products sold locally and internationally. Our products include handmade jewelry, bags, and textiles.
Many of our cooperative members (UPAVIMas are single mothers or heads of households, and their income from working at UPAVIM is often their only source of income. The UPAVIMas can provide for their families and invest in their futures by earning a fair wage. In addition to employment opportunities, UPAVIM provides education and training to women in our community. We have a preschool and a primary school that provides education to over 200 children, many of whom come from low-income families. By providing education to children, we also empower their mothers, who are often responsible for their children's education and well-being.
UPAVIM also offers vocational training to women, including sewing and teacher training. By teaching women new skills, we are helping them to become more employable and to earn a better wage. We believe education and training are vital to empowering women and breaking the cycle of poverty in our community.
At UPAVIM, we are proud to participate in the women's empowerment movement. We believe that empowering women creates a more just and equal society and builds a better future for our community. We invite you to join us in our mission to empower women and to create a more just and equal world.