CWOW Blog

At the end of January, I spent one week in Ecuador visiting Quito, Cayambe, and Otavalo, my first time seeing CWOW’s work in action internationally. After 2 years of serving behind the scenes and in the store, this trip was eye-opening in the best way. It gave me a clear, unfiltered look at how the “Unlocking Your Design” curriculum impacts women’s lives and how our global partners are doing life-changing work every single day.  Thirteen of us traveled to Ecuador, eager to celebrate the graduates and see CWOW’s impact firsthand. Some had been before, others were experiencing this work up...

After meeting with Casa mis Sueños in Quito, we traveled to Cayambe, a rural town about an hour north of Quito. Also located in the highlands of Ecuador, the weather was mild and dry. We learned the main economic driver for the area is flower plantations. During our drive, we saw roadside stands with several dozen roses selling for $5. The white rectangles of the greenhouses for the flower plantations littered the landscape. Our friends in Cayambe, SUMAK, provide support to indigenous Cayambe and Otavalo women who have experienced domestic violence and intervene on child labor law violations. We graduated...

Creative Women of the World offered Unlocking Your Design to the beneficiaries of Casa mis Sueños (CMS), taught by Quito native, Ana Cristina. Tailored to address the unique challenges faced by women looking to reshape their lives, the program integrates basic business knowledge, practical budgeting skills, and essential financial literacy. The program instills a triple bottom line approach (People, Planet, Profit), emphasizing the significance of considering family and community impacts while operating a business. It encourages students to embrace the assets they already possess, no matter how modest, fostering a sense of self-worth and potential. Mela, co-founder of Casa mis Sueños...

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Amazon rainforest lies Ecuador, a picturesque country with diverse ecosystems and vibrant culture. But beyond the picturesque scenery lies stories of income disparities, heartbreaking challenges for women and children, and a country fighting against powerful drug cartels. Join us on a journey to Ecuador as we explore the cities of Quito and Cayambe, and discover the transformative work being done by Creative Women of the World in collaboration with Casa mi Sueños and SUMAK to provide business and financial literacy training for women in these communities.     Our journey took us deep...

Our friends and students in Chongwe and Lusaka, Zambia, who went through Unlocking Your Design (UYD) in the past year, had a reunion in June with their trainer, Ana, before she moved back to Ecuador this month. They surprised her with a chicken which she was to take home with her! Our trainer, Ana, share some wonderful success stories from these groups. She told us about one woman who was selling buns on the street. After taking UYD and learning about costing and expenses, she realized she would make more money if she bought a bigger bag of flour. “She realized that she needed to...