WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AND STRENGTH 
In contrast to the norm in many rural
areas, Fair Trade coops encourage women’s active participation. At
PRODECOOP in Nicaragua, the General Manager and 40% of the coop members
are women. In Oaxaca, Mexico, the CEPCO network of coffee coops has a
Women’s Commission that has helped to elevate the status of women as
more than wives and mothers.
"Thanks to CEPCO, we have woken up. We
realize that as women, we can do more than stay home and have children."
-- Epifania Velasco,
Oaxaca, Mexico
At the SOPPEXCCA coffee cooperative in
Nicaragua, women came together to form the cooperative "Las Hermanas,"
("The Sisters"), through which women farmers sell their coffee directly
to U.S. buyers.
"If it had not been for Fair Trade and the
opportunities that SOPPEXCCA has provided for women, I never would have
had the opportunity to participate in cupping competitions, and I never
would have known that my coffee is among the best in Nicaragua."
-- Rosa Adilia Toledo, a
member of SOPPEXCCA and Las Hermanas.
In the prestigious 2004 Cup of Excellence competition, three of the
top-rated coffees came from SOPPEXCCA farmers.
As a part of Fair Trade flowers standards, a Joint
Body must be formed - a democratically elected leadership group of
workers and management that addresses worker concerns and administers
Fair Trade social premiums. In all Fair Trade Certified flower farms,
women play key leadership roles on the Joint Body.
"As the Secretary of the Joint Body, I feel
very proud because I can see that my coworkers are confident in me, and
for that reason, they elected me. It’s a very important job, and I
cannot comply with everything we dream of. But still, I feel proud that
they are confident in me. I have learned many things, and I think that
having a leadership position may help me, help my community, and maybe I
can help my children.
"One learns many things, because we have many responsibilities. As
representatives, we represent 120 of our co-workers. We meet with Joint
Bodies from other countries, to learn from each other’s experiences.
"However, I feel as though if I were to leave, I couldn’t receive
another leadership position at another farm, because I am a woman. I
would have to be only a worker.
"
-- Luz Chancusig, Jardines
Paiveri, Ecuador