40 Women Improving Income through a Sweet Business

In every corner of our community, there are stories of struggle and resilience that deserve to be told. We want to share the experience of a group of women entrepreneurs from Puesto Los Pérez (Tucumán), who recently participated in a producers’ gathering in the town of Alpachiri. This event was not only an opportunity to showcase and sell their handmade crafts, preserves, and baked goods, but also a space to share their dreams, challenges, and lessons learned.

More than just a market, it was a space for connection and reflection. In a discussion panel, the women spoke about rural life, food sovereignty, gender-based violence, and cooperativism. They shared how they organize their production processes, the difficulties they face, and, most importantly, their determination to move forward. Each testimony was a powerful reminder of the strength of women who, despite adversity, find autonomy and pride in their businesses.

One of the participants reflected on the essence of these gatherings, highlighting the importance of knowing that there are other women going through similar experiences, with whom they can identify and connect.

As a result of this event, the entrepreneurs also discussed the need to promote tourism circuits within the province that would allow them to market their products more efficiently, reducing the high transportation costs to better-known tourist centers. With this goal in mind, we are already organizing a second gathering in December in Los Pizarro, a key location for community-based tourism in the southern region of the province.

Each story shared at this event reminds us that when a woman embarks on an entrepreneurial journey, her entire community grows stronger. Thanks to those who support this project, we continue building real opportunities together to transform lives.

Mabel is a 56-year-old woman full of energy and enthusiasm. A mother of two children, who are her greatest pride, she is also a language teacher and has an immense passion for teaching. However, despite her experience in education, there was one thing that made her feel insecure: technology.

When ACDI launched its digital literacy workshops, Mabel decided to face her fear and enrolled. Although she initially felt out of place, especially since she wasn’t familiar with the digital world, she attended each session with enthusiasm.

In the workshop, Mabel started from the basics: learning how to charge and turn on her computer. As the classes progressed, her confidence grew alongside her skills. Little by little, she became familiar with programs like Word and, to her surprise, even created a flyer to promote her small shop—something she once thought was impossible.

Each new class gave her tools that made her feel more secure and capable of mastering the digital world that had once felt so foreign to her. By the end of the workshop, Mabel had not only learned how to use a computer, but she also left with a new email account, a colorful flyer with the hours and location of her shop, and the ability to write and edit documents in Word.

This knowledge will help her boost her business and has also opened up a world of possibilities for her to continue learning and growing. Through her effort and dedication, Mabel has proven that it is never too late to learn something new, and that technology can be a transformative tool in everyday life.