2021/10/26
As part of the project “Strengthening the Capacities of the Government of Costa Rica and Host Communities to Receive Migrants and Refugees,” the Organization of American States (OAS) recognized the work carried out by The Trust for the Americas in training Nicaraguan refugee women in Costa Rica.
During the presentation of the results of the project’s first phase, Maricarmen Plata, Secretary for Access to Rights and Equity at the OAS, thanked “The Trust for the Americas, a partner on the ground,” for its important role in training female migrant entrepreneurs from Nicaragua to develop their business and digital skills.
Maricarmen Plata reiterated that “the OAS makes its tools available to continue contributing to improving the living conditions of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and their host communities, as well as opening new spaces for national cooperation.”
Maite Capra, Regional Coordinator at The Trust for the Americas, spent seven months training Nicaraguan women: “We established open communication, which is reflected in the numerous exchanges related to their ventures, their challenges, their dreams, and their dose of reality,” she explained.
Maite recalled that “this group of 12 women has been working to analyze videos created by The Trust for the Americas to empower other women in similar situations.” We took the liberty of meeting in person just once to conduct a workshop on CANVAS, adhering to social distancing protocols and using protective equipment, in an open, natural space filled with plants and life. That day, we met face-to-face and formed a SORORA NETWORK that continues to this day. We are at a very significant stage: they have created their CANVASes, and with the support of an expert in the field, we have thoroughly reviewed them in order to provide feedback and strengthen each one, with the goal of implementing them soon.”
At the end of the training sessions, nine women not only received a one-thousand-dollar subsidy, but also created their investment plan based on the knowledge built around safe and quality entrepreneurship, which has helped significantly improve their business.
The implementation of the Project was carried out by the Department of Social Inclusion of the Secretariat for Access to Rights and Equity of the OAS, in close collaboration with the Government of Costa Rica, with the support of the Governments of Spain and South Korea.
Costa Rica