2018 has brought some pretty cool changes to LLI’s Women’s Empowerment Program. After seven years of offering a wide array of educational workshops to women, we decided in late 2017 to re-evaluate, reflect and re-charge based on conversations had with the women’s program participants themselves. The result? An amazing new certificate program that offers women hands-on, professional training. Read on to learn more from our very own women’s program manager, Sandra Bjarnadottir, who joined us this February all the way from Iceland.
1) What does the program look like now?
This year we are focusing solely on finance education. The goal of the program is to increase women’s capacity for personal money management and to increase women’s capacity for starting and managing a small business. The finance program lasts from April to November and finance classes are given every Sunday from 5:30 – 7:30. The program is divided into obligatory courses and optional courses and in order for the women to be able to receive their certificate at the end of the course they have to take all of the obligatory courses and a certain amount of the optional classes. In addition to the business classes we offer both computer and English classes as part of ways to achieve their certificate.
Attendance has been full in courses, especially the required courses, with 30 women showing up every time. We’re now heading into our second round of registration for a new cohort of women to start in July.
“I am part of the Women’s empowerment program because I want to learn finance techniques to be able to start my own business. The classes are very important and interesting. Each class has been a revelation for me.” Jessica, a current program participant and previous participant from past years. Jessica is seeking to open her own restaurant of traditional Peruvian food (yum!).
2) Why was the decision to change gears made?
In October 2017, we had a vision meeting with participants and volunteers of the women’s program to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our program, the interests of our participants, and to brainstorm ideas for what our program should focus on in the future. The consensus was that the women were most interested in classes in finance and business and that our program was particularly strong in these types of classes. Also, many of our participants were interested in starting or improving their own small business. Our goal is always to listen to our participants, so we decided to offer classes that will give them the tools to develop a strong business plan and earn extra income for themselves and for their families.
In addition, we really liked the fact that this program would fill a void in terms of what resources are available to women. There are similar organizations in our area offering psychological or medical support to women, but none we could find were focusing on women’s professional skills like we’ve done in this program.
“I think the program is very interesting and every class we learn something new and are able to socialize with friends. We are studying finance to become leaders in our homes and community.” Eloteria, a newly joined participant and small business owner
3) Share your experience up until now working with the women, with Peruvian professors, etc.
These past few months have definitely been a big learning experience for me. Life in Peru has a different rhythm than back home and adjusting to that has been challenging but very rewarding. Working with the women has been absolutely amazing, each and every one of them is so kind, strong and inspiring and I feel very fortunate to get the chance to work with them for an entire year. We have an excellent group of finance professors and students that are all working together towards the same goal.
“Being part of LLI s empowerment program in Huaycan has been a very inspiring and challenging experience for me. It was my first time teaching, however, I learnt a lot from these strong women that take time away from their family to study. I will, without a doubt teach at the program again, there is nothing more enriching than being able to share experiences and knowledge with people that are so eager to learn. Thank you LLI for inviting me to participate in this wonderful project!” – Andrea, one of the program’s finance teachers
4) Anything else you’d like to share?
My favorite part about working as program manager of the women’s empowerment program is definitely when I get the chance to interact with the women of Huaycan directly. I’ve been so lucky these past few months to be able to participate in data collection for the program as well as promoting the women’s finance classes. Both of these projects have involved going to the streets and markets of Huaycan to talk to the women and try to get them engaged with the work we do at LLI. In my opinion the most important part of my job is to personally get to know the women of the community in order for me to understand what they want and need from the courses we offer at LLI.
To an amazing year, keep up the great work women of Huaycán!
¡Fuerza a todas las alumnas mujeres de Huaycán este año!
lightandleadership.wordpress.com 