The Women’s program was started by the Costa Rican Lutheran Church in 1994, with the "Ministry of Women" as a fundamental part of its Integral Mission and later became a formal and permanent committee which aims to promote leadership, advocacy, and organized independence on a social and economic level.
The group is currently composed of community representatives and coordinators responsible for planning, monitoring, partnerships, advocacy activities, and production of crafts.
The Women’s Commission seeks to improve on the Rights of Women, providing legal, theological, holistic, and creative tools to substantially raise their quality of life and social consciousness. A major axis consists of production, which promotes training in the development and marketing of handicrafts in the domestic and international market, under the name " Artisans of Life".
Over the years, this group of women leaders has left a huge legacy in organization and production processes in our communities.
Ms. Xinia Bourbon, an instructor, says:
"These workshops are a tool that facilitates independence through productive activity that provides a livelihood to households"
This productive work also aims to provide a formal ministerial art education
for Guatuso women leaders and a pastoral call. The group of facilitators consists of leaders like Xinia Bourbon, Teresa Guadamuz, Martha Giron, and Celina Sosa, of whom we share a little of their educational activity in urban, rural, and indigenous communities.
From La Carpio, Marta Giron informs us that the work gives you the opportunity to:
"Teach a group of women migrants from Nicaragua and also Costa Rican women and is a wonderful experience. We meet once a week to share talents and skills through crafts. This community is a place where many of these women suffer from domestic violence and economic problems"
The techniques are varied and include the development of various products for marketing in different materials such as cloth, paper, embroidery, decoration, and also natural and recycled materials.
Recently, the Indian region of Cabagra began the pilot project "Sewing Workshop", which was made possible by the support of Lutheran Pastors Nehemias Rivera and Joaquin Horing, who together with the Director of the School in Cabagra, Mrs. Kelyn Rojas Villanueva, formed this activity in the local school.
Mrs. Teresa Guardamuz, coordinator of the Committee, told us that:
"This year is intended to give four year advisory in sewing school uniforms, which is a nice job, where they build the Kingdom of God as a team. You can feel the support of God when the work is done with love”
Language Assistance: Nicolette Filson
