Even in the face of challenges, seeds of hope can take root. When we support girls and young women to develop leadership skills, access reliable information, learn to use digital tools, and build networks of support and sisterhood, they become critical agents of social change towards equality.
Ana, a Venezuelan woman, fled her country with her son after experiencing intimate-partner violence. Upon arriving in Colombia, she changed her name to Viviana for safety reasons and became friends with Elizabeth through CIVIX.
Viviana was able to start a perfume business and achieve some economic independence, but she eventually had to return to Venezuela for personal reasons. Days after arriving, her body was found. It was suspected she was murdered by her former partner.
Despite the injustice of Viviana’s death, her life has become a powerful inspiration to promote the economic autonomy of other women and their right to live free from violence.
In her memory, Elizabeth now leads Proyecto Viviana: Empowerment and Entrepreneurship for Women as part of the Niñas Poderosas ("powerful girls" in Spanish) strategy by Tejiendo Redes Infancia* in Latin America and the Caribbean, supported by Together for Girls.
Violence against women and girls continues to be a harsh reality
In Latin America and the Caribbean, between 63% and 76% of women have experienced some form of gender-based violence, limiting their development and ability to participate in public life.
And yet, in the midst of these challenges, seeds of hope continue to grow. When girls and young women can develop leadership skills, access information, use digital tools, and build support networks, they become key players in social transformation.
“As a mentor, it’s been key for me to remember that I was once a Niña Poderosa too. Now I have the opportunity to give back what was given to me—to grow and transform my life and the lives of others. Every empowered girl becomes a human rights defender.”
Nubia Lazo, Fundación Vida Plena, El Salvador
A crucial part of Niñas Poderosas, the goal of the Digital and Community Seeds is to spark local-level transformation through the use of official data and digital tools focused on gender equality, intergenerational dialogue, participation, child rights, and youth leadership development.
These initiatives are born from the participants’ own stories, questions, and lived experiences. Each girl or young woman develops a proposal and receives technical support to put it into practice.
Some Seeds take the form of social media campaigns, digital magazines, podcasts, or videos. Others are implemented in community spaces and documented for broader distribution. This diversity allows each project to adapt to its specific context and creators, to strengthen both their reach and sustainability.
A journey of collective learning
At a regional gathering organised by Tejiendo Redes Infancia, the girls and young women behind the Seeds participated in previous methodology workshops and networking sessions.
These spaces, along with mentorship, have helped them strengthen their skills, exchange experiences, and form a support network with other Niñas Poderosas across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The mentorship approach is rooted in intergenerational, supportive collaboration where the voices of Niñas Poderosas are at the center. The approach prioritizes equality, offering suggestions through practical examples, while respecting each Digital and Community Seed’s context and pace.
These spaces were made possible thanks to the support of women from the Network of Supporting Organizations**.
“Being a mentor fosters intergenerational sisterhood—learning and sharing experiences and knowledge as role model with other girls and young women leaders. Building caring societies requires us to support and work alongside one another.”
María Rosa Ávila, CASACIDN Argentina
“In Niñas Poderosas, I discovered the power of purpose-driven leadership, where our voices matter. My Digital and Community Seed is based on the notion that through collective care, we can open pathways of resistance and autonomy for more girls and women.”
Sofía, 23, Colombia (Aura Violeta)
Digital and Community Seeds by Niñas Poderosas
Colombia
- Aura Violeta (Violet Aura) – Sofía, Juana and Laura
- Eco sueños (Eco-dreams) – Paula
- Red Latinoamericana de Empoderamiento (Latin American Empowerment Network) – Sara, Valeria and Sara
- Viviana: Empoderamiento y Emprendimiento para Mujeres (Viviana: Empowerment and Entrepreneurship for Women) – Elizabeth
El Salvador
- Conociendo mi cuerpo (Learning about by body) – Itzel
Guatemala
- Amor y autoestima (Love and self-esteem) – Ilse
- Club de fans (Fan club) – Monserrat
- El foco informativo (The information spotlight) – Angely Yaneth
- Empoderamiento e igualdad de género (Empowerment and gender equality) – Helen
- Las Girls Transforman (Girls transform) – Melany
- Regla Libre (Free Period) – Betzabe
- Tejiendo Vidas Libres de Violencia (Weaving Lives Free of Violence) – Aleida
- Women’s Voices – Angela
- Xumi'l – Helen
Mexico
- Creando Líderes (Creating Leaders) – Karen
- Educar con Igualdad (Educating with Equality) – Mariangela
- El Club de las BigSis (The BigSis Club) – Betsabe
- Diversamente Poderosas (Differently Powerful) – Itzel
- La Caja de las Lecturas (The Reading Box) – Kendra
- Nueva Fem – Dharma
- Oficios y Profesiones (Occupations= – Valentina (México) and Danna (Colombia)
- Quienes mucho leen (Those who read a lot) – Ivana
- Quiérete (Love yourself) – Sara
- Science Girls – Abril and Amairani
- Sex Educa (Sex Teach) – Grettel
- Un clic por la sororidad (One click for sorority) – Victoria and Emma
- Voces de Valentía (Voices of Bravery) – Yarazeth
Dominican Republic
- FemMas – Meybi y Sarah
- Vio-less – Camila
One of the main successes of this initiative has been the building of connections that transcend geographic boundaries. Many young women shared that, for the first time, they felt heard, valued, and capable of leading change in their communities.
“Being a mentor has been a learning opportunity, because in reality, it’s the Niña Poderosa who has taken the lead with her creative drive. I sincerely hope that more girls, teens, and young people can take part in these spaces of learning, creation, and transformation.”
Elizabeth Morales, Colectiva Xochiquetzal, Mexico
Why planting seeds matters
The Digital and Community Seeds show that social change can begin with just an idea. What matters is that those leading these efforts have the power to imagine, decide, and act.
Investing in girls’ leadership is crucial to building more just societies. When girls lead, the solutions are more creative and sustainable. In a region where violence remains persistent, these Seeds are a way of saying: We are here, we are many, and we have ideas. Listen to our voices.
To help more Seeds grow, we need training spaces, funding, and public policies that recognize girls' rights and their role as drivers of innovative community action, with the support of adults.
One of those changemakers is Elizabeth. As part of the Viviana Project, she empowers vulnerable girls and women in Medellín’s Comuna 80. Each week, she and the Corporación Mujeres y Familia El Vergel gather to strengthen skills and build autonomy. Viviana’s life will live on through this Seed of hope, planted in each woman, teen, and girl who gains economic independence to live free from violence.
“For me, mentoring the Viviana Project Seed has been deeply rewarding. Witnessing its growth and potential fills me with hope and reminds me why creating opportunities for a fairer, brighter future is so important.”
Carolina Becerra, Bolivia
“Thanks to *Niñas Poderosas*, I was able to broaden my perspective and help transform the lives of women in other countries, drawing inspiration from their projects to strengthen my own. They supported me, uplifted me, and believed in my voice. Today, I can say that I lead with purpose and passion, because I learned that change begins when you dare to speak, to listen, and to create alongside others. Viviana walks with me every step of the way, and Niñas Poderosas pushed me not only to share her story across borders, but also to continue supporting girls and women.”
Elizabeth, 19, Colombia (Proyecto Viviana)
For more information, follow #NiñasPoderosas or visit tejiendoredesinfancia.org/ninaspoderosas.
*Tejiendo Redes Infancia is a network of 22 civil society organizations and coalitions in 12 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
**The Network of Supporting Organizations includes Es Delis Con Eis, Colectiva Niñas que Inspiran, Fundación Vida Plena, Scientific and Technological Skills Project for Chiapas Youth, ALERE, Colectiva Xochiquetzal, Luna School of Menstrual Education, Alas y Raíces Chihuahua Children's Cultural Development Program, Rehilete Program for Non-formal Adolescent Education, Corporación Opción, Osar Juvenil Guatemala, CASACIDN, among others.