Idalina Felisberto’s Story of Change
Before I connected with the Women Spaces project, I had a very different perspective from the one I have today. I thought women had many limitations because I believed there were many things we were not capable of doing. When we thought about developing projects, especially within my co-operative, I believed that only men were capable of taking things forward.
Since joining the project, I have learned that many of the things we see as limitations are actually placed in our own minds. Through the project, I met new women and heard many of their stories, which greatly increased my knowledge. I participated in debates, talks, experience exchanges, and other opportunities that opened my mind and changed the way I saw myself and other women.
I first learned about the Women Spaces project through the Municipal Administration of Chicala Cholohanga, where our co-operative’s land is located. At first, I thought it was something simple, but over time I understood that it was much more than that. Beyond learning about the Land Law and the law against domestic violence, it became a space for sharing experiences. I learned how to position myself in society and strengthened my understanding of my rights and responsibilities.
Through the project, I received training on the Land Law, gender and violence, data collection, and practical farming techniques. I also participated in experience exchanges with other cooperatives. These were moments of great learning for me.
I learned how to cultivate potatoes very well and was introduced to mucuna seed, which can help improve the soil. I was able to take this knowledge back to my co-operative, and today our land has large-scale mucuna production.
One of the most memorable experiences for me was the annual Women Spaces forum. I met and connected with many women, each with their own stories and life experiences, and I was able to learn so much from them. The project’s openness and its relationship with the local government and Municipal Administration have also helped bring us closer to government officials, so that we are no longer seen as simply co-operatives.
Today, many things have changed in my life. I was one of the first women to join my co-operative, and now I hold its highest leadership position as President. Thanks to the training I received through Women Spaces, I gained the skills and knowledge that helped me reach this position.
What I have learned is also something I now pass on to my group of women. I teach them to have courage and strength because, for many women, even the freedom to think can feel as though it has been taken away by men. Today, we know that land is not the sole and exclusive property of men and that women also have equal rights, including when it comes to inheritance.
The other women and I have also organized ourselves and are now working to establish a poultry project. We already have the land, and we are working together to move the project forward.
My family has also been an important part of my journey. My husband and my older daughters have always supported me with ideas, values, and, above all, a great deal of strength. My husband is a very resilient person and never lets me give up on my dreams. Their support continues to grow every day, and it has helped me achieve my goals.
Today, I have greater self-esteem, and I am able to be a better person by sharing my knowledge with others. In my community, I am regarded as a reference and an influential person, and I feel very welcomed. I also share the new knowledge I gain with my family, and these positive changes have contributed to a healthy family life.
My dream is for women to gain more space in society and claim their place. I want women to be less dependent on men, to work, and to have the ability and freedom to think, act, reflect, and dream.
My message to other women is to be persistent and not give up on their dreams and goals. Have hope and faith in the opportunity to improve your life. I also hope the Women Spaces project can reach even more women, so that more of us have the opportunity to awaken to what we are capable of, move forward with our lives, and dream of a better future.