At TECHO, we know that change is driven by women. In every community, in every construction project, in every unexpected encounter, there are women who sustain, drive, and transform. TECHO this strength: 75.8% of community leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean identify as women (TECHO, 2019), and 59.2% of our volunteers do as well (TECHO, 2023). It is these women who organize, manage, and fight to move their communities forward.
This article brings together excerpts from the stories of women who are part of TECHO. Coming from different backgrounds and circumstances, these women have found in the organization a space for empowerment and transformation.
Inés – Chile
This is Inés, a woman who, throughout her life, has faced challenges that have left a deep mark on her. For years, she lived in an environment of domestic violence at the hands of her ex-husband—a situation that affected not only her physical and emotional well-being but also that of her daughters. Coping with this daily violence was a constant struggle, and for her, finding a safe place to live—where she could protect her daughters—was an urgent necessity.
During the pandemic, Inés made the courageous decision to leave her ex-husband’s home and, along with her daughters, moved to a vacant lot. With no resources or infrastructure to build a decent home, she made do with the materials at her disposal, just to ensure a techo—albeit a temporary one—for her family. That’s when TECHO into her life, and with the organization’s support, she was able to build a safer, more permanent home, far from violence. Today, Inés has not only transformed her own life but has also become a community leader in “Nuevo Amanecer de Cerrillos,” advocating for decent housing for all women and families in vulnerable situations. Her story reflects the indomitable strength of a woman who, despite adversity, never stopped fighting for a better future for herself and her daughters.
Read Inés's full story here.
Carla Alvarez – Mexico
This is Carla Álvarez. A woman who turns her passion into action. Since joining TECHO 2017, she has been a key leader, convinced that the right to housing goes beyond a basic need: it is a right that must be defended. Her love for community work and her training as a lawyer led her to spearhead the Legal Department in Nuevo León, making it a bridge between families and legal certainty regarding their homes. Carla not only fights to change systems but also empowers others by raising awareness and sharing her knowledge, demonstrating that justice is also built on commitment and empathy.
Zélia – Brazil
This is Zélia. A woman who has transformed her life and that of her community through her tireless dedication to volunteer work. In her community of Vila Beira Mar, Zélia has been a vital leader in fostering collaboration between TECHO, volunteers, and neighborhood residents. Before she met TECHO, her ideas were just isolated dreams; but with the organization’s support, Zélia has managed to turn those dreams into concrete projects, always fighting for her community’s rights.
For her, leading Vila Beira Mar is a way of life that involves striving to improve every day and teaching her children and neighbors to pursue their dreams.
“I fight hard in this community—and in others—so that people will understand our rights. I suffered, but I managed to overcome it all, you know?” says Zélia, reflecting the strength she has found in solidarity and love for her community.
On this International Women's Day, Zélia reminds us that the fight for the rights of women and the most vulnerable communities is a long journey, but one filled with hope and love, and she herself is an agent of change.
Learn more about Zélia here.
Alma – Mexico
This is Alma. A woman who sustains and drives her community with her strength and determination. In Jomama, she has been the driving force behind the neighborhood organization, encouraging other women to come together and create opportunities where once there was only the violation of rights. For years, the precarious condition of her home held her back, but when she built her home with TECHO 2014, everything changed: she found security, dignity, and the space to imagine a different future.
Today, her “colorful castle,” as she calls it, is more than just a techo over her head—it is the center of her autonomy and independence. From there, Alma works, drives her business forward, and forges her own path, proving that when a woman has a safe space, she flourishes and helps her community flourish as well.
Read the full story here.
Pili and Clau – Paraguay
These are Pili and Clau. Two young women who began their journey at TECHO volunteers in 2013, working with high school students, where their passion for community service and volunteering brought them together. Over the years, both continued to grow, taking different paths, but in 2021, they reunited to take on the challenge of leading TECHO together. They faced significant challenges, both professionally and personally, so it was essential for them to build, together, a safe space for collaboration and connection, where they could strengthen their shared resilience.
Her leadership serves as a beacon for all women striving to transform their reality. Pili and Clau demonstrate that, by coming together and supporting one another, women not only empower themselves but also drive key progress, creating opportunities for growth for everyone.
Jackeline – Venezuela
This is Jackeline Borges, a woman who turns unity into a massive change that starts with one person and multiplies as we discover what we’re capable of when we come together. Since 2016, when she first learned about TECHO, she has been a pillar of strength for the organization and her community in Parnaso, Turgua. Her leadership has inspired her neighbors to organize and face everyday challenges together. For her, true change is measured not only by physical improvements but also by the community’s ability to work together. With determination and boundless energy, Jackeline demonstrates that the strength of one woman can mobilize an entire community, creating a more just and supportive future.
Read more about Jackeline here.
The stories of Inés, Carla, Zélia, Alma, Pili, Clau, and Jackeline are just a few of the many that bring TECHO to life. Like them, thousands of women throughout Latin America and the Caribbean are leading, resisting, and transforming their realities every day. They are the change they want to see in their communities, and they are shaping their own stories with every action, every struggle, and every step toward a better future.
In line with our value of diversity and our human rights-based approach to our work, at TECHO that both discrimination and gender-based violence constitute human rights violations that limit individual, community, and social development. Building rights-based societies involves taking into account the various power dynamics that affect efforts to overcome poverty and inequality, as these dynamics influence people’s access to material, social, and cultural resources based on their gender.
On this International Women’s Day, we reaffirm our belief that change is a collective effort and that, together with all the women who make up TECHO—with our feet on the ground and our hands on the job— we remain committed to building a more just and inclusive future, wheregender equality is not just a goal, but a reality.
In the settlements where TECHO on a permanent basis, women lead key community spaces that provide access to food, education, and recreation, such as soup kitchens, community dining areas, and after-school support centers. In this context, they face not only poverty but also a triple workload: paid work, unpaid community support activities, and caregiving responsibilities, which place an extraordinary burden on them.
Written by Lucía Carabelli.