Self-care to reduce the impact of gender-based violence

For eleven months now, CARE has been working alongside women’s organizations on the South Coast for their empowerment, highlighting the importance of self-care spaces for a life free of violence.

“Games, dances, and relaxation exercises that have a healing impact can become tools that allow them to reduce the impact of violence in their lives,” explained Emma Rodas, violence prevention facilitator.

Self-care includes actions that benefit the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of the individual, and it must begin with the recognition that we are responsible for our own well-being.

That is the call that was made through the workshop on self-care that was developed with the Working Women United Organization from the Granados village, Nuevo San Carlos, Retalhuleu; and with Arapis Mujer, from the Concepción Ixtacapa village, Suchitepéquez.

“Going for a walk, working out, having a balanced diet, congratulating ourselves for our achievements, and motivating ourselves are some actions that benefit our self-care,” explained the workshop leader of the Guatemalan Women’s Group (GGM) who worked in coordination with CARE Guatemala’s facilitator, through of the Program for the Prevention of Violence and Crime Against Women, Children, and Teenagers in Guatemala (PREVI).

“Self-care allows us to be well, happy, and it raises our self-esteem,” expressed the workshop participants.

These actions are carried out thanks to the project “Strengthening the Rights and Economic Empowerment of Rural and Indigenous Women in the Southern Coast of Guatemala for a Life Free of Violence”, as well as with financing from the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, through the PREVI.