Since childhood, I have always wanted to better myself. I was one of the top students at my school and graduated with a degree in dressmaking, excelling in annual competitions. I dreamed of becoming a doctor or a speaker, to care for and to empower other women. However, difficult circumstances led me to start a family at the age of 16. A lack of communication at home and societal pressure temporarily derailed my plans. I became a young mother with fragile health and faced painful decisions. Life was not easy, but I never stopped dreaming.
I’ve always been passionate about entrepreneurship. I’ve delivered workshops on nutrition and leadership, even as I faced sexist barriers, especially in religious spaces where I was expected to limit myself to traditional roles. I also endured harassment and discouragement, but I never gave up. I’ve led awareness efforts on environmental care and gender equity, giving talks in schools, communities, and parks. I also worked with the Red Cross on blood donation campaigns, raising awareness about the importance of voluntary donation.
I’ve kept moving forward, driven by my passion for service, but also thanks to my mother, who always stood by me. In the darkest moments, her words echoed in my heart: “I believe in you. You can do this.”
Eight years ago, I decided to leave my community and start a new chapter in Quito. There, I resumed my studies and completed high school. I later trained as a nursing assistant and earned certifications in coaching and personal growth. At the same time, I volunteered with several organizations. It was during this journey of personal rediscovery that a life-changing opportunity appeared: joining the Rhizome Women of Life School, an initiative supported by UNESCO. At that time, I was experiencing profound emotional loss. I didn’t feel ready, but I said yes. And it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
The school wasn’t just a place for learning; it was a place for transformation. I learned about ecosystems, laws, and women’s rights, but most importantly, I learned from the other women who shared their lives with me: brave, generous, and resilient women from the mangrove. Seeing them persevere despite lacking basic services inspired me deeply. I saw myself reflected in their stories, and in that reflection, I began to recognize my own identity.
Thanks to the school and the guidance of its coordinator, I was able to name my pain, reframe my story, and strengthen my leadership. That’s why I chose to share what I learned in my community, focusing on women’s rights. I don’t want others to go through what I went through in silence. I also helped with the fieldwork module, as I’ve been committed to protecting the environment since I was a girl. Today, I am studying Business Administration. I still dream of becoming a speaker and launching my own business.
The Mujeres Rizomas de Vida School gave me the strength to say, “Yes, I can.” It made me more empathetic, more resilient, and more aware. And although it was a school for women, I dream that it will also include men, because they too suffer, they too need to heal and learn. Only together, through respect and equity, can we build justice for all.
My story is not just mine; it belongs to many. And that’s why I share it: so that no woman must remain silent again. So that we can all flourish, like rhizomes, from the deepest roots toward a freer, fairer future.
…Ħ
The project “Mujeres Rizomas de Vida School” was organized by the National Coordination for the Defense of the Mangrove Ecosystem (C-CONDEM) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE), with the support of UNESCO. This initiative was carried out between May and November 2024, to offer transformative solutions to the challenges faced by women in the country’s coastal communities, incorporate a gender perspective and adapt to local contexts.
Thanks to UNESCO’s support, two women from the mangrove communities in the Macizo del Cajas Biosphere Reserve were able to participate in the Mujeres Rizomas de Vida School. This action is part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme and the regional MangRes Project, which focuses on mangrove restoration as a nature-based solution.
In 2025, 91鶹Ʒ undertaken the coordination of the Mujeres Rizomas de Vida School – Phase II.
