As we embark on this journey called motherhood, hundreds of emotions begin to flood our beings. From joy to restlessness and hope, mothers feel it all and somehow still manage to fulfill their roles.
They say it “takes a village” to raise a child. You need people that you can look up to and help guide you. You need people that will directly or indirectly be involved when it comes to you raising your children.
And this village does not have to be family or someone you know. For example, many mothers out there inspire others with their actions and hard work. They may not realize it, but with their expertise, they influence change, support women’s rights, and help magnify their self-worth.
This, in turn, empowers mothers all around, inspiring them to look beyond what they believe is their limit and instill the confidence that you, too, can make a difference not only in your child’s life but also in your community.
Here are some empowered mothers that have managed to do just that — inspire us and motivate us to be role models and advocates of change.
Ayli Quinteros
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Ayli Quinteros is the leader of Mishky Cacao, a cocoa processing plant in Chazuta, Peru. Unfortunately, the town of Chazuta had long been the target of narcotrafficking and violence, its inhabitants forced to use their farms to cultivate coca leaves.
However, thanks to Ayli and a group of women from her community, Mishky Cacao was formed as a means “to generate more value from their families’ cocoa harvests by producing chocolate together”. Their goal was to stray away from the narrative of violence and bring about positive change in their town.
Ayli wanted women to feel valued and that the fruits of their labor positively impact their community.
Because of this venture, Chazuta has become a safer community in which its inhabitants have been able to prosper and grow. And we have a group of strong women to thank for this.
Rosa Gonzales
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Rosa Gonzales is a 30-year-old farmer in Matapalo, Nicaragua. She inherited land from her father, as her family had been in the coffee-producing business for years.
Due to the effects of climate change, her coffee plants began to deteriorate due to high temperatures. This left Rosa wondering how she could save her crop, and thus began to plant banana trees to provide shade to her coffee plants.
Instead of becoming overwhelmed by her failing crops, Rosa had the initiative and ingenuity to turn adversity into something that could help her living situation. Sometimes, it is only natural to crack under pressure, but Rosa showed the strength and prowess needed to become successful.
Eventually, her banana trees turned her into a banana farmer, allowing her to generate profit to financially provide for her son and nephew.
Dara Obispo
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Dara Obispo brings us a story of courage and determination. She became a single mother at 16 and lost her mother around the same time. This left Dara without much-needed guidance, and she struggled to make ends meet to sustain her young son. She had to put her best face forward and raise her baby while simultaneously coping with her loss and grief.
Feeling the pressure to find work in something that would provide her with income, Dara decided to revamp her “family’s abandoned cocoa farm” in Peru and use it as a way to cultivate a brighter future for herself and her son. It was a challenging project with lots of physical labor; she had to nurse the farm back to health.
Now, three years later and 19 years old, Dara is a successful cocoa farmer, works independently, and is able to make a schedule that works for her family.
Dara shows mothers all around that it is possible to salir adelante.