Poder de la Mujer

Here in Peru it seems as though there is a festival or official day of celebration for anything. Everything from the common, like Mother’s Day, to the bizarre (or potentially invented) like Pisco Sour Day. I’ve learned to take advantage of these days to facilitate events or generate awareness about a relevant topic. March 8^th was International Women’s Day, so Lindsey and I decided to plan an educational health fair for women in the district of Poroto. We began coordinating with our counterparts from the health post, soliciting support from the psychologist, nurses, and obstetrician to provide professional advice and interactive sessions. The idea was to present important health information in a fun and participatory way. The idea started small and manageable, but before long it transformed into an expansive event. We incorporated the 20 plus health promoters living throughout the rural sections of the district, my youth health promoters, and another NGO working in health activities. The municipality and police also became involved, creating a community-wide project that required seemingly endless coordination amongst all parties. Serving as the go-between between so many disparate community organizations definitely tested my patience at points, but the event came together well and ended up being a success.

The day began with an opening from the mayor and local authorities, recognizing the importance of women in the community. After concluding the welcome, each authority wrote their personal reflections about women on an enormous paper mural honoring international women’s day. We continued with a cultural show of typical dances performed by community members. From there, groups of women passed through series of stations that focused on different health fields; nutrition, family planning and reproductive health, women’s rights and empowerment, and mental health. Each station included interactive sessions hosted by health professionals and Lindsey and I. We also incorporated a different game at each station to encourage participation, teamwork, and fun. The games included bobbing for apples, three-legged races, pin-the-tail on the donkey, and egg races. To our delight, the women participated with enthusiasm. Full grown women were practically swimming in the bobbing-for-apples bucket and knocking each other over in the three-legged race. My youth health promoters also worked with the kids in the community to do art and play health-related games, allowing their moms to participate fully in the health fair. In addition to playing ridiculous games, women were able to learn how to prepare healthy meals, exercise their rights to education, work, and health, access birth control and family planning, report domestic violence, and more. The entire community participated in this event honoring women and their power. I continue to believe women are the key to development. If a woman is educated and empowered they will make positive, informed decisions regarding their futures and their families. The most responsible, involved, and dedicated youth in my community are girls, and if they are given further opportunities to exercise their leadership and explore their skills, I believe the future of Poroto is in excellent hands.