Strengthened for the Future: Education and the Advancement of Women in Chile and Peru

Background information

Mission 21 is active in the field of education in both Peru and Chile. In Peru, three partner organizations are supported that are active in various rural provinces in the department of Puno. The poverty rate here is almost 40 percent. A large proportion of the population is of indigenous origin. Aymaras and Quechuas are particularly well represented. Although Peruvian law provides for extensive civic participation and recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples, this is insufficient in practice. They often continue to be discriminated against and patronized by the state. Authoritarian and patriarchal administration is the order of the day. Social conflicts (including environmental conflicts) occur time and again, occasionally escalating into violent protests. Indigenous women in the highlands experience racism, discrimination and machismo on an almost daily basis. While they are in great demand as "folklore objects" and adorn tourism brochures in glossy pictures, they are perceived as a nuisance in their role as active citizens who take the state to task in order to secure access to infrastructure, water, food and income for their families and village community. If strikes do occur, they are often labeled as ignorant and unwilling to learn "non-humans" or "terrorists" in the media in Lima.

To make matters worse, over 23% of Peruvian women in rural areas are illiterate. At the same time, they often take on the role of head of the family as many men leave their families for months at a time to look for work in mines or in the city due to the lack of employment opportunities. The challenges in the everyday lives of many women and girls are therefore particularly high. As in Peru, the gap between what is enshrined in law and what is implemented remains very wide in Chile. Although the left-wing President Boric, who was elected in 2021, promised to overcome patriarchal structures and to exercise basic rights to education and health, women from the poorer classes and indigenous women in particular are exposed to great economic insecurity. They too are often solely responsible for the survival of their families. At the same time, they have little education and are inadequately informed about their rights.

In addition, most families in the slums are dependent on the state healthcare system. This means that they often have to pay up to half the cost of the medication themselves and often have to queue for hours for a medical consultation. Against this backdrop, Mission 21, together with its partner organizations, is promoting various educational courses aimed primarily at indigenous women and girls in rural Puno and women from the poor districts of Concepción in Chile. However, the educational programs are also open to interested men and boys.

Target group and goals

Peru

• Women from indigenous village communities in Chupa, Puno region improve their basic skills (Alfalit)
• Schoolchildren from the rural area of Chupa, Puno region, improve their school performance and move on to the next grade (Alfalit)
• Women from the indigenous women's organization "Bartolina Sisa" expand their basic and leadership skills (IDECA)
• Indigenous women of the Collective for the Protection of Lake Titicaca expand their knowledge in various context-relevant topics in order to carry out local and regional lobbying work (CBC) 

Chile

• Women from Concepción learn self-care strategies and have life skills that enable them to better manage everyday life (SEDEC)
• Residents of Concepción's poor neighborhoods (area of medicinal herbs and alternative medicine) are familiar with medicinal herbs and can successfully treat simple illnesses (SEDEC)
• Health sector personnel in Concepción (SEDEC) have the necessary knowledge to promote and strengthen complementary medicine within primary health care (SEDEC).

Activities

Peru

• Implementation of literacy courses, self-care and life skills (Alfalit)
• Intensive tutoring for children to close the educational gaps that have arisen during the pandemic and have severely set back children in rural areas in particular (Alfalit)
• Implementation of the multi-year leadership school "Kullakanakana Sartawipa" for women of the indigenous women's organization OMABASI (IDECA)
• Implementation of training courses for indigenous women of the women's collective for the protection of Lake Titicaca
• Participation in various working groups and networks for the implementation of action plans with the regional government of Puno (IDECA & CBC)

Chile

• Conducting courses on basic health knowledge and the use of medicinal herbs and other alternative healing methods (SEDEC).
• Conduct courses on alternative medicine for health care professionals and public relations work to promote alternative medicine (SEDEC).
• Conduct self-care and life skills courses (SEDEC).

Project progress

Peru

Alfalit: 97 women attended the literacy program during the reporting year. 76 of them (78%) successfully completed the year and significantly improved their basic skills compared to the previous year. Training in the use of digital devices and technologies was particularly successful because the women were able to participate in digital communities. This helped them not only in their personal communication with family and friends, but also in their small businesses (contact with customers) and thus contributed to their economic independence. In addition, 48% of the participants took leadership in the family, participated in decision making at the community level, discussed gender equality and women's rights in the face of all kinds of discrimination and violence against women. 42 primary school students (100% of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders) passed the school year. In the subjects of communication and mathematics, 76 % achieved the expected learning success and 24 % achieved an outstanding learning success. 10 students were randomly selected to participate in a provincial competition for learning achievement progress. 32 educational institutions participated. The students of the program's Alfalit program came in second place. Teachers also confirmed better interaction with and within families. The pupils were also more confident in expressing their feelings and needs.

IDECA project "OMABASI"17 indigenous women from the women's organization OMABASI took part in the leadership school "Lullakanakana Sartawipa". 41% of them (7 out of 17) actively participate in 3 networks (Red Muqi Sur, Red Muqi National and Platform of Social Organization of Aymara, Quechua and Uru speaking women) and significantly influence their agendas. OMABASI women have also taken on a strong leadership role in this year's social protests in Peru. Not only at local and regional level, but also at national level. Another milestone was the update and publication of the regional agenda of the Aymara-Quechua and Uros women of the Puno region to promote gender equality in the region. In addition, OMABASI, together with IDECA, presented a study on the water crisis to the mayor of Chucuito in July, which clearly shows that OMABASI women are actively campaigning for their living conditions in the region and demanding support from the authorities.

IDECA project "Rondas Campesinas" 66 members (including 50% women) of the "Rondas Campesinas" of the Ñuñoa district, Puno region, were able to expand their knowledge in various context-relevant areas, for example on their rights to protect their habitat. 27 of them (41%) have taken on leadership roles, participated in local and regional decision-making processes and carried out advocacy work. One participant achieved an important leadership position within the Central Única Nacional de las Rondas Campesinas del Perú (CUNARC), a nationwide organization.

35 people (30 of them women) from the collective for the protection of Lake Titicaca took part in the training courses and were able to expand their skills. They are actively helping to strengthen binational lobbying for the protection of Lake Titicaca so that the authorities can implement effective measures to decontaminate the lake. They also campaigned for permanent access to water, the right to food and women's rights.

Chile

SEDEC project "Personal Development": 89 women regularly took part in the project activities. The topics covered were: Self-esteem, self-confidence, self-care, empathy, dealing with stress and emotions. In the course evaluations, an increase in the participants' self-esteem is noted, whether through their personal development, their health knowledge or their knowledge of how they can (legally) defend themselves against gender-based violence or abuse. In their final speeches at the end of the year, the participants also testified to improved communication skills and increased self-esteem. In addition, the groups or subgroups were able to set up small businesses or receive financial support from the municipality. The fact that women over 50 can use virtual platforms can also be seen as a success.

SEDEC project "Medicinal herbs": 275 people (90% women) took part in the training courses on health topics and the use of medicinal herbs.83% stated that they were able to apply what they had learned in their families and neighborhoods and thus treat simpler illnesses. The project coordinator took part in two television programs. These are available on YouTube and were also shared on Facebook and WhatsApp. YouTube shows 740 views in January 2024.