WUNRN
The Hunger Project
MEXICO - WOMAN'S TESTIMONIAL OF
POSITIVE CHANGE
& EMPOWERMENT FOR
SELF, FAMILY, COMMUNITY
Raquel García
Vidaña is 38 years old, and is the Delegate of the Community of Jose Maria
Morelos in the Municipio of Juan Aldama,
In her own
words:
"Most of
the young people in my community migrate to the
My life was
dull and unsatisying, and I always used to think to myself, who will come to
help me out? I used to tell myself that since we were poor, we would never
move up in life. I used to think that nobody was interested in helping us
improve our lives.
"Ever
since I attended a Vision, Commitment and Action Workshop (VCAW) through The
Hunger Project-Mexico (THP-Mexico), and then became a catalyst, my life has
changed. My whole community has changed. It removed the wool from my eyes, so
to speak - helped me to stop thinking in a paternalistic way. I learned
to look after myself and not to depend on the government to help me move up in
life. I realized that here, in my community, we can run our own businesses and
work hard to give a better quality of life to our children. If we want to have
a better life...we have to work, and we are working!
"We came
together and decided our first goal would be to build a clinic; we got
organized and determined what we would need to make this happen. Some gave
cement bags; some others gave some trees to plant, some gave labor - whatever
they could.
"Before
[my family] did not have a bathroom...we used to go out to a latrine or to the
open field. We committed, saved some money, and now we have a bathroom with a
toilet and a shower!
"But the
story does not end there; I told my husband that we could still improve even
more... I did not want a wood heater, I wanted a gas boiler! We worked together
and we achieved it. With all these achievements, we are all inspired and
working to build a bathroom in every house; having a bathroom will mean a
healthier life for every family.
"I
used to think that women were not strong or capable. But now I could see the
needs that existed in my community, and decided to run for office as a
Delegate. I thought that the men would not support me; in the end though, it
was men who elected me! I am the first woman Delegate and people are
astonished; they congratulate me on the street. I am proud to be a woman. We,
the women, can!
"There
are still some men in my community who say that the woman's place is either in
the kitchen or doing the washing. But little by little, their attitudes are
changing. My husband now helps me with the housework; we decided that since we
are a couple, we both have to share the work.
"Many
things are changing in Morelos; in the past, we lacked the skills to
communicate and share our ideas. We felt like improving our lives wasn't
feasible; we were shy and afraid. Since we started working together with
THP-Mexico, we have lost that fear. It is never too late! It is possible to
improve and we are doing it!"
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