REMO

Women strengthen women on Isla Ometepe

Sometimes you just catch a glimpse into another world if you just let go. We were too busy taking in the beautiful setting of Isla Ometepe to bother with anything. So it happened that we missed extending our reservation at Maria’s.

After our wonderful evening et Zopilote, it had gotten pretty late when we ventured out to find a place for the night. After a short walk, we were happy to stumble upon Hostal Espirales. Besides carrying our backpacks, we didn’t mind walking at night because we heard that Isla Ometepe is very secure and one does not need to worry too much.

While talking with the employees, we once more realized that the concept and level of safety are very different for tourists and locals, especially for women. Abuse, gender bias, and machismo culture are severe problems for Nicaragua’s women. However, REMO has taken on the challenge to fight violence and gender bias. The island’s women organized and started a social business. REMO aims to empower women through prevention projects and the creation of economic prospects.

WOMEN
ON ISLA OMETEPE

Women in Nicatagua

Isla Ometepe’s women cooperative

Impact Tourism – Hotel Espirales

Enabeling women in agriculture

Social Business for Impact Tourism: REMO on Isla Ometepe

Women in Nicaragua

Nicaragua, one of the poorest in the countries has made significant improvements over the last 5 years regarding gender equality. According to the Global Gender Gap Report, Nicaragua has even become one of the countries with the smallest gap in the world. However, the picture isn’t that rosy. A Gallup study recently found that less than 50% of women feel like they are treated respectfully. Violence against women and the active machismo culture still persist.

Isla Ometepe’s women fight for each other

REMO stands for “Red de Mujeres de Ometepe, “ which translates into “Women’s network Ometepe.” Founded by the island women, the social business focuses on supporting women who suffer from abuse. Their projects – Hostal Espiralda being one of them- aim to create prospects for an independent future.

Today, the organization consists of over 60 women. Starting on a volunteer basis, the women followed their intrinsic motivation to create a better future. With their hope and dedication, they were able to establish a sophisticated network, even a social business. Together, the women contribute to the economic, social, and cultural development on the island.

Impact Travel at Hostel Espirales

The hostel provides employment to women who suffered from abuse. It’s a chance at generating an income and becoming more independent. On top of that, the Hostel offers a location for weekly movie nights or other events. REMO does not just aim to improve the income situation of women. Their projects extend beyond that. They want to help improve daily and social life.

REMO also enables women in the agricultural sector

After overcoming some initial difficulties, Isla Ometepe’s women successfully cultivated farmland. The properties are now either rented or used for self-catering. The creation of those “gardens’ also serves as an environmental education class. Women learn to love and appreciate the soil and inevitably pass this sense of responsibility on to their children.

Impact tourism – What can you do?

Isla Ometepe‘s strong women have already come a long way. Now it’s on us to keep the eyes open. Women and girls want to break free from the rigid gender roles.

Tourism creates new opportunities and prospects, especially for women. Today, many women cooperatives are springing up all over Nicaragua to fight the still active machismo culture.

We are privileged females with the chance to visit amazing countries. We are free to form decisions independently. To empower other women across the world, we should look out for and support other women. May it be by spending a night, purchasing from them or kind words.

GOOD TO KNOW

Women in Nicaragua

Machismo culture

Machismo culture still dictates the life of many women across Latin America. The word “macho” does have many different connotations. While the positive one refers to the male as the “strong protector” who provides for his wife and family, the more realistic one connotates that males are superior to females. A “machista man” sees women as a sexualized object. Catcalls, men who have several girlfriends and “women who shouldn’t focus on studies” and “stay at home” are the outcome.

Women in Nicaragua after the turmoils of 2018

Even though the positive connotations of machismo implies that men are the caretakers, the daily situation for women in Nicaragua is quite different. El Diario Nuevo stated that about 40% of households in Travel Nicaragua – volcanoes, lakes and colonial gemsNicaragua are sustained by women alone. According to the Family and Fertility Bulletin 25% of women under 20 have children. However, another report states that in about 34% of homes, the father is absent. Making the women responsible for the economic situation of the entire family. The turmoils in 2018 and the following arrest of more than 700 people with another 62 000 leaving for exile, made the situation for women even harder. Check out this interesting read for more information: A year into Nicaragua crisis women face ‘dramatic consequences’

Female Empowerment in Nicaragua

In 2012 the Nicatraguangovernment passed a law, stating that 50% of political candidates must be female. This ranks Nicaragua 4th on World Economic Forum’s political empowerment gender gap. Today, about 40% of all higher-paying jobs such as lawmakers, managers, and senior officials are staffed by females. An article therefore even referred to Nicaragua as the world’s unlikely champion in gender equality.”