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Supporting Women's Circles through COVID-19 crisis

Today, the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic is affecting everyone, in every corner of our planet.  

Although the situation is critical everywhere, we wish to reach out and lend a helping hand out to women whom we know are in special need.

Guatemala is home to some of the most vulnerable populations in the world. Maya communities in particular experience severe inequality, violence and poor health.

As an organization working in some of the most marginalized communities of Guatemala, our goal is to contribute to improved health and wellbeing for all, across generations. We do this by co-creating spaces of healing, growth, and transformation: Women's Circles for vulnerable women and Dialogue Groups for men, women, youth, and elders - aiming for collective action for strategic change in their lives and communities. 

Together, these activities provide space for hundreds of vulnerable women and men to find support, heal, and collectively build solutions to the problems they face – becoming agents of change both individually and collectively. The impact of these activities has been phenomenal, including increased wellbeing, shifts in gender norms, reduced substance abuse and strengthened social cohesion and solidarity - outcomes that are more important today than ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a harsh toll on people living on the edge in every corner of the world - most especially on women. In the communities where we work, many have lost their source of income, food prices have increased, and families are confined to their homes. Many women are experiencing increased levels of violence and have lost what is for many a lifeline: the possibility to come together in Circle with other women and find support.  

We find it impossible not to act - and hope that you might feel the same - to support individuals with a large potential to transform their communities for the better - including during this time of crisis.    


Your contribution will help us:

1.     Provide emergency assistance to the most vulnerable women and their families

2.     Innovate in how we sustain our web of support - needed more than ever! - to local leaders and Circle participants during this time of lockdown and physical distancing.  

The systems we are about to put in place as an emergency response to this crisis will enable us to continue contributing to strengthening collective action for strategic change.  These informal networks and community-based solidarity - which we are so committed to in Buena Semilla - are essential for sustaining resilience in the shifting political sands in which the global community finds itself.  They will also bring added strength and sustainability to our ongoing activities, and to our ability to expand them to other communities of Guatemala and beyond.  

 

- $ 10 USD supports one Circle leader for one day of work

- $ 15 USD allows unlimited calling/texting for 1 month for our local leaders [10 needed / month]

- $ 30 USD supports local staff for one day, in order to develop support materials for women (scripted phone messages, self-care guidelines, virtual Women’s Circle guidelines)

- $ 100 USD buys one smartphone [10 needed]

- $ 250 USD buys food (basic staples) for an average family for one month

 
Please give what you can and please help circulate!  Or you might consider supporting our 2020 fundraising campaign.  Thank you!  



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Donations 

  • Lucy Manchester
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Emily Yates-Doerr
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Josee Methot
    • $80 
    • 3 yrs
  • Carol Rhead
    • $40 
    • 3 yrs
  • Carolyn Houlding-Braunberger
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
Donate

Fundraising team: Buena Semilla (5)

Anne Marie Chomat
Organizer
Pacific Grove, CA
Ana Tisa
Team member
Chloe Mancini
Team member
Isabel Levine
Team member
Nicholas LeBel
Team member

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