Q: When did CARE come into your life?
A: CARE came into my life in the year 2000, when I was 24 years old. I heard that CARE had started a new project nearby and wanted to be a part of it. The project is the SUR project. (The SUR project aims to improve social and economic conditions for people along the southern border of Ecuador by promoting income generation, social services, natural resources management and local government strengthening. )
I was 19 when I was married. (Now Violeta is 30 and has three children – 2 girls ages 10 and 8, and one son age 4.) In 2002 I was elected as my community leader and was the first woman to ever be appointed to this position in my community. I was (and still am) an elementary school teacher, so I had already developed great relations with families in my community and wanted to extend other support to them.
Q: How did CARE change your life?
A: One of the greatest obstacles has been overcoming the culture; the roles of men and women. Some of the men of my community thought I was doing things that weren't appropriate for a woman, and that I wouldn't be able to fulfill my other responsibilities as a teacher and at home. But I proved to them that I could do it. I attended many CARE courses and studied a lot. Now I have a lot of knowledge and know how to manage and organized people better. I feel that now I am a stronger person who has the courage to help others improve their lives.
People in my community think that when you have a career, as I do as an elementary school teacher, that you have to do that and nothing else. But I had other ideas to improve and change my life and the lives of young girls in my community. I was trained by CARE to make handicrafts such as necklaces and earrings; organize meeting events; how to type and other basic organizational and management skills; how to train other women to have the same skills as I've learned; and received natural resources management training, which was my favorite.
Q: What motivated you to want to help others in your community after working with CARE?
A: My biggest motivation is to change the role of women in my community. In order to make a difference, you have to be more aggressive and less passive.
Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of?
A: I'm most proud of my identity as a Shuar woman. No matter where I go or what I do in life it's important for me to maintain my cultural identity as a Shuar woman.
Q: What do you hope to change in your community?
A: My dream is to see more women starting their own small handicraft businesses so they can each have their own income. I'm now leading a small group of women in handicraft production and hope to expand it and involve more women. I want to encourage young girls to learn about technology and change their way of living. Most young girls in my community marry at the age of 15 instead of waiting and learning new things. I want to set an example for them.
Q: Why do you think it is important for women to help other women?
A: Women have so much in common. We take care of our kids. We have experience knowing how men behave. We want young girls to know about opportunities in life based on what they do and don't do.
Q: Talk about some of the things you do each day, such as helping women earn an income and plant gardens, and teaching children: What does it entail?
A: Before women in my community weren't organized or given the opportunity to earn money for themselves. Now I've helped organize these same women to learn a trade and start their own handicraft business. We get together on Fridays to make necklaces and bracelets, and also work in our homes on other days. We sell these handicrafts in hotels and in nearby markets.
Q: What's it like being the first female leader in your province? What are the challenges?
A: At first I was a little afraid, but I have a lot of support from my family and friends. My father used to be the community leader and he gives me a lot of tips. The best advice he gave me was to be truthful to myself and others, and always look out for everyone's interests. Always be yourself and don't change yourself for others. The biggest change I've seen in my community is the role of women. Women used to work only in the homes and now more young girls are going to school and learning. I'm very proud of the changes in my community.
Q: Have you noticed a change in your community since you've been in office?
A: There are now changes in the thinking of women. Mothers are teaching their daughters how to change their behavior within the community — study, work, get involved with other activities. Before they were shy but are now becoming empowered to create change.
Q: Do you think you have opened the door for more women to take leadership positions in your country?
A: I don't know that. What I do know is that I am proud to represent my community and hope that my experience will serve as a positive example for other women.
Q: Is there anyone who inspired you or who you feel changed your life and made an impact on you?
A: I look up to my mother. She has always been with us and always there for us. She's my inspiration. When we got sick she took care of us as well as others. This is why I like to help others.
