Promotion of gender equality through youth leadership, carrying out transformative actions in defense of the rights of women, indigenous women, youth and children in western Guatemala. The project has three focus areas, one is the improvement of leadership skills of young people, the second focus is the incorporation of young people’s proposals, and the third the application of the gender focus in the technical team of Colectivo Noj.
Directly involved: 1,180 persons, 688 women and 492 men (among them youth and children, indigenous women), indirect involved: 12.400 people (7.325 female / 5.075 male) from their families and communities.
The patriarchal model and growing corruption in economic, social and political spheres, hinder participation and development of young women, as well as disregarding their potential leadership skills. This often results in migration, making these women the economic support of the country and ruling class controlling the financial and banking system. While awareness around women’s equality is growing and with this, spaces are opening for participation in social and community organisation, women are still unlikely to participate. A persistence of patriarchal patterns and Gender Based Violence prevails within these organisations and families, many having worsened in the pandemic period. Social and community organisations have limited methodological training adequate for youth and women, meaning that if participation does occur, it is restricted to automatic repetition of tasks without the encouragement of critical thinking practices within the organisation.
Colectivo No'j, or “COL-NO'J” works in western Guatemala with children and young people, and women from rural areas and of indigenous origin. COL-NO'J is dedicated to holistic and appreciative education. Every year, COL-NO'J organizes, among other things, the "Festival Internacional de Educación para la Vida", a networking meeting for people working in education.