Women for Justice, Education and Awareness

Programs

At MuJER, self-empowerment goes beyond the classroom walls.

MuJER’s program is successful in empowering women sex workers through its focus on self-esteem, autonomy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Check out our programs below:

Leer es Poder: Reading is Power Course

Literacy is the key to self-empowerment.

The Leer es Poder project is the backbone of MuJER’s programs. This basic literacy class was the first class offered by MuJER, and has continued to serve as the first step toward the self-empowerment of our women. By partnering with Guatemala’s national literacy program, CONALFA (Comité Nacional de Alfabetización), we are able to provide effective one-on-one literacy training. The personal attention each woman receives in this program is essential to their success as it not only allows the women to leave the program with the ability to read and write, but also with the self-confidence to take full advantages of the other programs MuJER offers. Classes are held at MuJER’s workshop center on a weekly basis, and are completely free of charge for the women.

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Accelerated Elementary School Course

The consequence of more education is more opportunity.

MuJER also partners with CONALFA to enable the women to complete elementary school (grades 3-6). The completion of this course is a significant achievement for the women, many of whom were either unable to complete elementary school or to attend school at all. Upon completing each grade level, our participants receive certificates documenting their newly attained elementary school level. Classes are conducted in small groups, take place once a week, and are free of charge. With the elementary school diploma, MuJER’s students become eligible to pursue a high school diploma. Those who have completed this course have reported an increase in their self-esteem, and many have expressed a desire to continue their studies. They also become better equipped to pursue new professional endeavors if they choose to do so.

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English Language Course

Knowing English boosts confidence, communication, and resumes.

Possessing a basic level of English competence can tremendously augment an individual’s salary in the Guatemalan job market. Our English language courses focus predominantly on conversational English, and the women leave this course with a new and very marketable skill. The course takes place weekly at our center and is free of charge.

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The MuJER Course of Beauty

Learning entrepreneurship through beauty.

Our beauty course provides our women with the opportunity to learn the basics of manicures, facials, and hairstyling. Through our partnership with Junkabal, a women´s vocational school, we offer a three-part course which, besides training in beauty skills, includes classes in small business management and human values for entrepreneurs. The class and most of the materials used are free of charge, however, at the start of the course we ask that the participants buy $6 worth of materials for personal use. In 2010 we hope to count on financial support to be able to offer both an introductory and intermediate beauty skills course.

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Computer Skills Course

With technology we can do anything.

Our computer classes are designed to teach the women basic computer competencies, including Windows, Microsoft Word, and Internet skills. With such knowledge, the women are able to market their skills in professional settings. They also gain the confidence to utilize new modes of technology. These free computer classes are one of MuJER’s most widely-attended offerings, and are scheduled 3 times weekly.

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Jewelry-Making Workshop

It’s about time we showed off our creative side.

Our jewelry-making workshop was first taught by one of our volunteers, Vilma, who was originally a student in our accelerated elementary school class. It is a weekly drop-in course in which participants learn how to make different kinds of jewelry that will ultimately be sold in the United States and Guatemala. The proceeds from the sales are a source of alternative income for the women. We are proud that this highly popular course continues to be taught by a woman sex worker from our community.

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Work/Home Visits

Building personal relationships and promoting dialogue.

MuJER caseworkers engage in biweekly visits with individual women, either at their place of work or their respective homes. While on work/home visits, our caseworkers promote dialogue about education, health, and women’s rights. At MuJER, we are dedicated to building personal relationships with each woman who participates in our program, and door-to-door visits are one way we accomplish that objective.

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The Network of No Violence Against Women

Actively participating in making real and lasting changes for all women.

In May 2006, MuJER became a member of the Committee for National Awareness of Violence Against Women, a part of La Red de No Violencia Contra las Mujeres (The Network of No Violence Against Women). This network of women’s organizations works to prevent and eradicate discrimination, oppression, and violence against women in Guatemala by conducting research on public policy, communication, and political issues affecting women in Guatemala. They also propose new public policies and carry out campaigns for the protection of women’s rights.

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Short-Term Workshops

They may be short-term, but their impact is exponential.

MuJER offers free, short-term, high-impact workshops about topics proposed by our community. Workshop topics focus on how to live a life free from violence in which the women learn about different kinds of violence, how to identify them, services available to victims, and national and international instruments that protect women’s rights. Other workshop topics focus on self-esteem improvement, art, first-aid, and changes in Guatemala law that affect sex workers.

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