In developing countries, women suffer numerous injustices and discriminations. They are exploited on various levels, excluded from education, paid very little or not at all, and left to educate their children themselves. Moreover, the cultural, social, and economic obstacles which they face maintain their inferiority and hinder their development. If a woman’s income is increased, her family’s living conditions (hygiene, food, and education) automatically improve because her entire salary is put toward her family. An increase in a man’s salary may not affect his family because a man often reserves a significant part of his income for personal expenses (drinks, entertainment, eating out, etc.) and is less concerned with his family’s wellbeing.    

Our action aims to reinforce the women’s autonomy in both her personal growth and her role within her family and her community.

Junkabal: A real chance for women

In most of the developing countries, many women are relegated to subsidiary roles. They have less access than men to education and vocational training. In Guatemala, our partner ACOE offers vocational training programmes to women living in precarious conditions. If they have a profession, these women strengthen their position in the family and in the community and are capable of providing a real contribution to improve the living conditions of their families and the education of their children.

Thanks to our project, every year 2.500 women take part in technical training courses and benefit from the Junkabal infrastructure.

In the period 1989-1992, ACTEC financed the initial establishment of the centre. Under the project, the number of participants in the technical courses tripled in number in the space of five years and is still growing. For this reason, a new partnership phase was undertaken in the period 2000-2002 involving the construction of new buildings to increase space and double the training capacity of the project. This led also to the setting up of a new computer course and the reinforcement of the social programme (basic medical care and support for the creation of micro businesses).

The buildings currently house a social and medical centre, a library, various manual workshops and a nutrition centre. Didactic material contributed to the literacy course and vocational training and the promotion of small-sized family businesses.