Bringing new career prospects to women in rural Peru

In the Peruvian province of Espinar, our Antapaccay copper mine has contributed to two programmes aimed to promote the craft skills among the local population. Its objective is to work with community members and diversify employment opportunities in Espinar, so that their economic dependence on mining can be reduced. What is special here is that the programmes have been put in place specifically for women.

The communities around Antapaccay are primarily rural, and for a long time, there was a lack of teachers and adequate classrooms or supplies. As a result, many women did not complete their school education and therefore have poor literacy skills.

Two new programmes will now improve the situation on the ground. In a literacy course, participants have the can strengthen and improve their skills in mathematics, reading and writing, whereas with the programme “Learning to Weave”, they can also develop their weaving skills and learn more about topics such as product design, packaging and the development of new business ideas. By attending these courses, the women are granted a recognised certificate from Espinar's Department of Education.

Both programmes promote entrepreneurship and generate better employment opportunities. They create new perspectives and therefore can help strengthen the position of women in the family, at work and in the community altogether. 13 municipalities and a total of 300 women have participated in the programmes and benefited from them so far.

David Flores, a representative of the Espinar Ministry of Education, is convinced that thanks to programmes such as these, women have found the strength and the opportunity to improve their own quality of life. “I have learned to weave by hand. Now, my needlework looks much better, and I can sell it and earn enough money to feed my children. The training has inspired us all to develop new ideas – and now I want to become an entrepreneur,” says Rosa Pacca, a participant from Suero y Cama.

“My parents could not send me to school, and I had to work from the age of seven. I never learned to read and I could hardly do any maths at all. I now know the four basic arithmetic operations,” adds Gabriela Huisa, 62, from Bajo Huancané. “My children think it is never too late to learn to read and write. I am proud and grateful to be able to show them that I have succeeded in this undertaking.”