2020/10/30
- In four years, we have benefited 71,667 people, of whom more than 56,000 are women living in vulnerable conditions.
- VIVE empowers Mexican women to expand their employability potential in the sales and retail sector.
- The project was present in 245 municipalities across 29 federal entities of the Mexican Republic.
Mexico City, October 29, 2020.- According to the country’s latest Economic Census, 43.8% of the population engaged in economic activities are women, which is why, from September 2016 to the present, the VIVE Project has been implemented in Mexico, developed by The Trust for the Americas, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). VIVE has trained 71,667 people, of whom 56,753 are women from 245 municipalities in 29 states of the Mexican Republic.
“Since March of this year, at The Trust for the Americas and Proyecto VIVE, we’ve had to shift our training program to an online format in response to COVID-19. This presented an operational and logistical challenge. And thanks to the team’s prompt response, professionalism, and adaptability, we were able to adjust,” said Linda Eddleman, Executive Director at The Trust for the Americas.
Among the results, we highlight:
- 15 virtual courses on employability and entrepreneurship topics;
- Participation of nearly 400 women entrepreneurs in Mexico and 6 Latin American countries, helping them face the challenges that the pandemic brought to their economic activities.
- Launch of the Trust Entrepreneurship Directory, the VIVE Talent Bank, and the online course “Preventing Violence Against Girls and Women.” In addition, the VIVE alumni community has become closer-knit and more dynamic, thanks to initiatives such as the nine “Cafés con Heroínas” events, which were held virtually nationwide.
Women account for 37% of the unemployed population aged 15 and older, according to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Of these, 64% of women over the age of 15 do not have a high school education, which reduces their chances of securing regular, formal employment, according to the 2017 Mexican Statistical Yearbook. For this reason, the VIVE Project focused on this population and implemented technical training, interpersonal skills training, and workshops on the prevention of violence against girls and women, as well as training on how to advocate for and assert their labor rights, with a focus on protecting their health, education, dignity, and development, as well as maternal protection.
“The VIVE Project has focused its efforts on women who are in vulnerable situations, which means they face challenges such as low socioeconomic status, poor academic performance, domestic violence, unemployment, or irregular employment,” said the Executive Director of The Trust for the Americas.
During the event, the Recipe Book for Powerful Women: “Stories to Inspire You,” which compiles 71 success stories, was presented. “We wanted to have the opportunity to give a sample of these stories of change and resilience, and today we are happy to present this book of stories: Recipe Book for Powerful Women: Stories to Inspire You, where we gather 71 stories, 1 for every thousand graduates,” concluded Linda Eddleman.
Recipe Book for Powerful Women “STORIES TO INSPIRE YOU”
Much of the project's success is due to the teamwork they have carried out hand in hand with organizations such as: ManpowerGroup Foundation, an expert in employability issues, Fundación Profesora Eva Rodríguez de Camou, and the Municipality of Toluca through Ambientes de Paz y Desarrollo; in addition to having the collaboration of local youth authorities in different federal entities, state secretariats, and delegations.
Gayatri Agnew, Senior Director of Opportunities at the Walmart Foundation, recalled that “four years ago, when Proyecto VIVE began, ambitious goals were set, and today we marvel at the result. We have gone beyond providing training and increasing skills. Today, thousands of women in Mexico have better opportunities to access a job, start a business, and make decisions with freedom and independence, thanks to Proyecto VIVE.”.
Gayatri added that “the philanthropic approach is based on our company’s (Walmart U.S.) mission to create opportunities so that people can live better lives. ”This initiative (Project VIVE) is an example of the shared commitment by Walmart, the Walmart Foundation, and The Trust for the Americas to make an impact and create value in our communities.”.
Ambassador Aníbal Quiñonez, the OAS representative in Mexico, celebrated the achievements of the VIVE Project, recalling that “the OAS is committed to promoting substantive equality and has assumed a leadership position in the region. Projects like VIVE are a tangible example of this objective. And in this sense, we reaffirm our commitment to more rights for more people… We invite you to follow Trust and join its regional efforts to continue working toward ensuring more rights for more people, especially those in the most vulnerable situations.”.
During her remarks, Alejandra Mora Mora, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), recognized the work of Trust for the Americas for joining forces to benefit women in Mexico. “Today I want to highlight two contributions. The first is to celebrate VIVE for believing in women, because the world must commit to believing in women… Thank you to Trust for the Americas for its work on behalf of women, and thank you for including the CIM in this effort.”.
Present at the event were: Ambassador Aníbal Enrique Quiñónez, OAS Representative in Mexico; Alejandra Mora Mora, Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM); and Gayatri Agnew, Senior Director of Walmart Foundation Opportunities.
It is worth noting that the Proyecto VIVE training programs are based on certifiable standards endorsed by the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), which outline competencies aligned with industry standards. The first 20 hours of the training cover technical studies (sales promotion, sales, customer service, and marketing), and the remaining 20 hours focus on life skills (digital literacy, leadership, communication, and entrepreneurship). It is important to note that upon completing the training, 97% participants demonstrate improved professional skills, particularly in the handling and distribution of merchandise, and 93% participants acquire excellent abilities to secure jobs in sales and customer service.
Training is currently available online through https://aulavirtual.trustfortheamericas.org/. The educational offering is: customer service, sales, promotion, violence prevention, basic tools for entrepreneurship, and the Webinar Entrepreneurship in Times of Crisis.
For more information visit:
Visit: www.trust-oea.org/vive
Facebook: The Trust for the Americas Twitter: @Trust4Americas
Proyecto VIVE: @ProyectoVIVEMx
About The Trust for the Americas:
The Trust for the Americas is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Organization of American States (OAS). Established in 1997 to promote public-private partnerships, The Trust has implemented projects in 24 countries and has worked with more than 1,000 organizations in the region. Our initiatives seek to promote educational and economic opportunities, as well as government accountability and transparency. Our unique partnership with the OAS gives us access to decision-makers throughout the region. This vital partnership is the foundation through which we build strong networks across all member states and the private sector. As our region develops, The Trust continues to help overcome challenges through strategic partnerships that foster cooperation for sustainable results.
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