translated from Spanish: Prodemu Women Win “100 Women Leaders” Award

The women PRODEMU Monica Flores and Sara Garrido, were winners of the 100 Women Leaders 2019 award organized by newspaper El Mercurio, TVN and Women Entrepreneurs that was held this November 26. This award, seeks to recognize the 100 women who from different areas, contribute to build a better country and become an example for their peers. The selected were the president of the National Network of Women of Craft Fishing in Biobío and president of the Artisan Fish Union of the Caleta Coliumo de Tomé, Sara Garrido, and the azapa farmer dedicated to the cultivation of flowers, Monica Flores, who were selected from more than 600 names by a jury made up of prominent personalities. The National Director of the PRODEMU Foundation, Paola Diez, met in Santiago with both women. During the meeting, the director congratulated them, “they are an inspiration to all Prodemu women. This recognition is aimed especially at all women who, like Monica and Sara, have worked for their empowerment, for their autonomy, are years of effort and learning that pay off. It’s a pride for every woman in the country,” she said. At the meeting, both women appreciated the significant support they have received from the Foundation for their personal development, empowerment and autonomy, highlighting the importance it has had during this time, all learned about focus and gender equality. In addition, Monica Flores referred to the importance of this tribute, “it is a recognition to the woman farmer, who is never valued for her work on earth, this is an important gift not only to me. It is to encourage other women to also approach the cultivation of the land.” For her part Sara Garrido noted “I am happy and proud to represent all the women of fishing, we are 25 thousand women with fishing record, so this is not only for me, but for everyone, because I know that in every cove of fishermen there will always be a woman q it is in the way of artisanal fishing. With this award my only interest is to make them more relevant, to highlight them and to be supported, because they are a huge contribution to the sector”. The activity also awarded other figures such as Carolina Picasso, president of the Chilean Special Olympics, Dora Altbir, National Prize of Exact Sciences 2019 and Valentina Troncoso, lieutenant of the Fach and only female helicopter pilot who has operated in Antarctica, among others.

Original source in Spanish