"In Una Mano para Oaxaca, we are implementing a long-term post-COVID-19 crisis program to support the recovery and rebuilding efforts of our indigenous communities in Oaxaca. The program aims to help them recover from the economic recession and regain a strong foothold in their communities, enabling them to thrive and prosper in the future."
We are Zapoteca indigenous people who are still recovering and rebuilding our communities from the devastating effects of the 2017 earthquake. As a vulnerable group, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on us. Approximately 58% of our population lives in poverty, and some of us lack adequate housing. The pandemic has also affected our access to food, as many of our communities have implemented roadblocks and other extreme measures in an effort to reduce contagion.
As a solution, we are strengthening our post-disaster productive and educational intervention model by empowering the cooperatives of traditional handcrafts and trades in our communities. The earthquake taught us that resilience is our best weapon, and we have adapted our model to have a long-term, high impact on the community. We offer distance and in-person workshops that are accessible to low-income participants, with a focus on women and children, who are the primary link in their social.
Ancestral knowledge and cultural traditions help to unite and sustain our communities. By working together, we can use technology to support sustainable activities based on circular economy models. By promoting this model, we aim to help up to 150 women develop strategies that allow Zapoteca indigenous communities to achieve good living. These strategies will empower our communities and help them to become self-sustaining and resilient in the face of challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic .
