Network of rural women in Colonia

The creation of the Departmental Network of Rural Women in Colonia emerges from the Program Colonia Integra, implemented in the department more than 7 years ago. This program consists in the creation of ten community development rural centres in different areas of the region, and they have become for the rural dwellers a place for leisure, education, culture and production. From this program, a few groups of rural women scattered throughout the territory felt the need to join to achieve common objectives like economic improvement and growth, the reinforcement, continuous training and environmental protection.

Therefore, the Rural Women Network of Colonia was created in 2014,

as a platform to empower rural women providing them with tools for their strengthening. In 2016 it has more than 85 active rural women, divided in productive, environmental and social work commissions, and working actively to carry out their projects. The Network allows to train women in leadership areas and their participation in the design of laws, strategies, policies and programs in all issues affecting their lives. The Network has become a benchmark in the department. Their members have been invited to take part in different productive exhibitions at a national and international level and the network is considered by the National Government as an exemplary practice to replicate it in the other regions of Uruguay.