"The first time we ever held tools in our hands"

In January 2023, more than twenty women from the La Unión and Milán communities came to their village school for a weekend, many with their children on their laps.

The community lent us the school. We shared lunch for 25 people. We had come with two ideas for a training: beekeeping or bamboo craft.

We expected beekeeping to win. It needed fewer skills to start. The women chose bamboo. So we let beekeeping go. Listening has to mean being willing to change your own plan.

In February, 18 women signed up and committed to at least 60 hours of training. Two others decided to wait, because their babies needed them. We respected that, and promised them workshops that would fit new mothers.

Most of the women had left school after sixth grade to help at home. None of them had an income of their own. Most of their husbands worked in banana monoculture. Through them, more than 36 children were about to watch their mothers learn something new.

From March 6 to 31, the training ran at Finca Milan, which lent its workshop and housed the teachers. The Ashley Lashley Foundation funded the month.

“It was challenging. It was the first time we ever held tools in our hands. I was scared at first.”

Claudia, who completed the training in March 2023

By the end of the month, 14 women had completed the course and received a certificate. Together they built a table, two benches, a shelf, a curtain and three flower pots. Four men from the host farm took a shorter daily course alongside them.

When we asked what they wanted to call their group, they answered proudly: Cima de la Excelencia. Before the month was over, the collective had received two potential orders.

Eight months later

In November, ten women came back for a lamp-making workshop. Within three days they were designing their own lamps. In December, they sold their first three.