March 2012 GVI Mexico

GVI Mexico contributing to Women empowerment in Punta Allen, Quintana Roo Women empowerment is key to reduce poverty, increase democratic governance and achieve sustainable development in the World. Despite the progress in recent years, women and girls still account for six out of 10 of the worlds poorest and two-thirds of the worlds illiterate people; they perform 66 percent of the worlds work, produce 50 percent of the food, but earn only 10 percent of the income and own only one percent of the property (1).Therefore, one of United Nations Millennium Development Goals is to promote gender equality and empower women. In line with this global effort, GVI Mexico has supported women empowerment in every opportunity we have had since we started here in 2003. In March 2012 we started working closely with a newly born women cooperative in the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, called Las Orqudeas de Sian Kaan (The Sian Kaan Orquids). With a population of 600 people, Javier Rojo Gomez community, better known as Punta Allen, is the largest fishing village inside the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve. It is also an outstanding example of sustainable lobster fishing. The village has been growing since 1970 when it was established; to date it counts with 1 fishing and 5 touristic cooperatives, all led by men.

Las Orqudeas de Sian Kaan has been created with the objective of helping out with the family income while

preserving and showing the natural beauty of the Sian Kaan biosphere reserve. It is formed mostly by housewives, who will focus in eco-friendly activities and accommodation for tourists i.e. kayaking in the mangroves, bird watching, trekking & cycling in the Reserve.

Volunteers teaching English to women cooperative in Punta Allen library With the support of many organizations like United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Comisin Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP), Amigos de Sian Kaan, etc they will be trained in business planning, finances, marketing, customer service and team work among many other skills. GVI Mexico staff and volunteers will also play a key role in their training as they will be providing environmental education, delivering English lessons, training them in first aid, swimming & kayaking.

(1) Gender equality and UNDP, 01 July 2011 http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/fast-facts/english/FFGender-Equality-and-UNDP.pdf) Figure 1 source: Solares Leal Ileana & Alvarez Gil Oscar, Socioeconomic assessment of Punta Allen: a tool for the management of a Coastal community, Sian Kaan biosphere Mexico; September 8th, 2003, "International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN)" http://www.icran.org/pdf/MAR-Pages/home/punta_allen.pdf