“To graduate in a course created for my benefit and wellbeing in Mexico, is a great honor for me. I will be participating in the bootcamp, my greatest dream is to become a full on entrepreneur. Thank you WPDI,” Nellida Gonzalez, participant in the Business and Entrepreneurship program.
September 19, 2023 – Experience working in some of the most underprivileged communities in the world has shown us that some groups are more marginalized, more vulnerable and more stigmatized than others. In communities where violence and instability is rife, where economic opportunities are few and far between and where state support is minimal, women are often the first group to suffer. Even more so when migrant women are involved, far away from their families and support networks. This is why at WPDI we have been working closely with groups of migrant women in Tijuana, Mexico, which hosts many women looking for a better life and economic stability.
This year, we were delighted to graduate a group of 15 migrant women from a Business and Entrepreneurship program (basic and intermediate level) in partnership with the Centro Escalabrini de Formacion para Migrantes (CESFOM), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing migrants with the tools to improve their situation.
The 2-month intensive training program provided participants with the knowledge and skills to kick start their business projects, and provided them with the capacity to begin generating income for their families. Jorge Bustamante, CESFOM representative, said: “It is rare to find a non-profit organization with such tangible results. We are happy to collaborate and see actual changes in our beneficiaries’ lives. We will surely coach our graduates so they can feel more knowledgeable about their new businesses.”
Another group of migrant women graduated from our Business program in the La Presa Abelardo L. Rodriguez community, which was targeted by WPDI due to its vast levels of criminal activity and extensive problem with gender-based violence. 10 women graduated from our basic and intermediate level Business and Entrepreneurship program, which was held at the La Presa ALR government office.
The women also participated in other courses focused on self-motivation and psychology, because at WPDI we are convinced that communal peace cannot be achieved if individuals cannot find inner peace. Victims of violence in particular are in need of real support to help them overcome their trauma before focusing on building themselves a brighter future. Some of the women who graduated are keen to participate in our upcoming Business Bootcamp. “I would like to obtain funds for my bean sprouting business. Health is important to me and I have noticed that not many people have this kind of business. Thank you for bringing this training to us,” said Abigail Contreras, who participated in the training program. WPDI will be providing potential projects with extra training and guidance to help prepare them for the Business Plan Competition, where their business projects will be scrutinized by a panel of expert judges.
These 2 groups of women are part of the WPDI Women Livelihood program, designed in partnership with the L’Oréal Fund for Women, that will include the full training of 50 women and the support of 10 women-led businesses in 2023.
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