Closing the Gender Gap
Discrimination of women pervades all levels of Guatemala, from the countryside to the capital. At Ak' Tenamit, we consequently promote gender equality in everything we do, from our board, which statutes require to be half women and half men, to the villages, where we encourage girls to stay in school through the We Must Educate the Girls program, and the organization of women’s craft cooperatives. The project has a staff person specifically dedicated to gender issues, and our health program makes women’s health a priority. Much our community development work is also aimed at improving life for women, such as the donation of water systems and corn mills, which save rural women from spending hours each day collecting water from streams and grinding corn. Many women dedicate that time saved to producing crafts, which provide vital family income and gives them more power within their households and communities. Our gender program has also initiated a process that will help Q'eqchi' women to own land.