Over the past year, the world has witnessed the power of women’s voices as never before. They are speaking out against harassment, campaigning for office, creating art and culture, and inventing new technologies. Women’s stories, ambitions, and ingenuity are finally taking center stage.
Empowering women to claim their voice – their power – is at the heart of our work at Pro Mujer. For nearly three decades, we have shown how giving women the tools and services they need can create profound social and economic change for themselves, their households, and their communities across Latin America.
While it has been thrilling to see the world awaken to women’s power, especially at a time when we at Pro Mujer are scaling up and transforming our efforts, the past year has not been without its challenges. Violence, natural disasters, and poverty have pushed the number of displaced people and refugees to a record high; intolerance has gained strength in countries around the world, with troubling implications for women’s rights.
Latin America was not spared. Major earthquakes in Mexico, civil unrest in Nicaragua, economic crisis in Argentina, and deadly volcanic eruptions in Guatemala tested the resilience of our beneficiaries and our team. It has become especially critical for Pro Mujer to step up at the worst of times – to protect and support our clients and staff, assist and strengthen our partners, and – to remain steadfast in our commitment to the women we serve when we are needed most.
This unwavering commitment underscores everything we do. It is the foundation for the trust we have built among our beneficiaries, staff, donors, investors, and partners.