Stop violence against indigenous women|Oaxaca MEX

Dear GlobalGiving community,

Today we want to share something that fills our hearts with joy. At the end of our toquillo weaving workshop, 22 Indigenous women decided to commission their own weaving frames. For us, this is a clear sign that the seed is already taking root. The learning is growing on its own, and soon this beautiful group of women will gather as a collective to create bags that strengthen both their income and their community bonds. Being able to witness this process up close, and to share it with you, fills us with gratitude.

We also want to open a window into what we experienced with our teacher, Claudia, in Unión Hidalgo. Her presence transformed the workshop. She arrived with her “golden tips,” her patience, her experience, and a generous way of sharing what she knows. She taught us how to use even the smallest pieces of material so that no one was left without supplies and we didn’t need to go beyond the planned budget. She guided us through the most delicate colors and the best techniques to protect the weaving, and her years of practice could be felt in every gesture.

Through this workshop, we were reminded of something very important: that it is never too late to learn something new. Doña Abigail, who is an older woman, worried at first that she would not be able to finish her bag, but every single woman completed her work. Once again, we recognized that each person has a unique way of creating, teaching, and learning; and that this diversity is what strengthens our program Mujeres Mapeando el Territorio. In these spaces, we weave trust, share care, and slowly, gently, begin to reduce the forms of violence that women experience in our everyday lives.

We would like to close this letter by sharing Claudia’s own words, because they reflect what this process means for all of us:

Thank you for walking with us. Every contribution, every message, and every gesture of trust helps us continue supporting women who, with their hands and their collective strength, are creating new paths of wellbeing for their families and communities.

With affection,
All of us at Una Mano para Oaxaca