Inspiration and resilience
In the heart of a nostalgic valley in northern Peru, where the sun kisses the earth and the wind whispers secrets among the carob trees, resides a community of resilient and enterprising women. Their hands, hardened by work and love, carefully tend to their small and mischievous chicks, whose cheerful cackling breaks the stillness of dawn on their small farm.
Every day, this group of women weave a network of solidarity and fraternity, demonstrating that together they can fulfil their dreams. Their small farm is the spark that ignites the flame towards a better future, the engine of a transformation that is already taking place in the community of ‘Monte Castillo’, a rural population centre located on the right bank of the Piura River.
These entrepreneurial mothers are a benchmark for the effort and commitment of their community: It all began in 2023, when they met a group of Telefónica volunteers (led by Francis Ayala and Gonzalo Augusto) and Choice Humatirarian. Together, they designed the ‘Empowering Dreams’ project, an initiative that focused on labour empowerment, economic autonomy, training in safety and self-esteem, and the development of productive and entrepreneurial skills for women in the community.
Through various sessions and workshops provided by Telefónica Volunteers, these mothers in extreme poverty became aware of their situation and committed to transforming their reality. They learnt techniques for raising farm animals and skills in administration, finance, accounting, production and marketing, as well as in the use of digital technologies applied to the poultry business.
The initial step was to buy chicks and sacks of balanced feed and to build a shed for the birds with mesh, drinkers and lights. Over time, the project evolved and now the shed has the capacity to raise more than 500 chicks. In addition, automatic drinkers and solar panels for the lights and the digital thermometer (with which the temperature of the pen is regulated) were implemented in the small farm.
All these improvements have allowed the mortality rate of the animals to be reduced from 15% at the start of the project to 3% at present. In addition, there is better health management and control with vaccines and the help of volunteer vets.
‘We no longer depend on the grape or mango seasons to have a job and support our families. This farm helps us generate income even in difficult agricultural times, allowing us to see our children and be more financially independent,” says Carmen Cárcamo, one of the beneficiary mothers.
Dreams and attitude
The stories of the mothers of ‘Monte Castillo’ are cemented by a common thread: their desire to be enterprising and get ahead. To learn and improve their quality of life. To guarantee a better future for their children and their families. These mothers have not only managed to run a community shed, but have also shown that with effort, unity and determination they can move from uncertainty to autonomy.
2024 was a great year for the mothers and their small farm. They managed to sell more than five hundred chickens: a milestone in the production of meat and eggs in ‘Monte Castillo’. Each hen, each egg, is a symbol of the independence, autonomy and achievement of this group of women. Of their skill, strength, commitment, resilience and hope, in the midst of houses made of mats, wood and bricks.
‘Empowering dreams’ has had a significant impact on this rural community: it has created a dynamic axis for the economy and has become a benchmark for success in the region. ‘We are mothers who don’t give up, we all get involved. This has led to other communities wanting to replicate what we do. Soon our knowledge of raising poultry will be part of other success stories. And that also fills us with enthusiasm and pride,‘ says Carmen.
In life, there are small actions that have a huge impact. And there are huge people who amplify that impact, like Carmen and her colleagues in the ’Empowering Dreams” project.
Transformation begins with gestures, firm attitudes, human connections and big dreams. A better world connected by solidarity is a more humane world. And by connecting people’s lives and their dreams, a better world is created.
Connecting to dream
The Social Action and Volunteering Programme of Telefónica is a powerful tool for generating social impact. The volunteers who participated in the ‘Empowering Dreams’ project have contributed their knowledge, time, effort and dedication. (As well as providing a wonderful opportunity to this community of mothers).
This is one of the examples of the actions and projects that Telefónica’s volunteers promote and channel through their solidarity, making their vocation as agents of change a reality and putting their skills at the service of society to combat social and digital vulnerability. Telefónica’s social action and volunteering programme is today one of the world’s leading corporate volunteering initiatives, with more than 58,000 employees participating and 1.4 million people benefiting in 30 countries.
