From what to how: when a group of women regain their lost confidence
A few years ago, I participated for the first time in a program with a group of women from disadvantaged backgrounds and difficult lives. They all arrived with the same feeling: they lacked self-confidence, clear opportunities, and role models to look up to with confidence.
In the early meetings, it was clear: few dared to speak, they avoided eye contact, or described themselves solely in terms of their shortcomings. After a few weeks, these attitudes began to change. They started listening to each other, contributing ideas, and valuing what they knew how to do.
The most exciting thing about these processes is seeing how trust spreads, and how each session brings moments and rewards that prove that real change is possible. The country or context doesn't matter, because inequalities and gaps are universal: the difficulty of finding employment, trusting in one's abilities, or taking a step forward only changes when there is someone who listens, supports, and offers a safe space. That is the difference that transforms everything.
WOB-IS: from “what” to “how”
That's the essence of WOB-IS: moving from “what they need” to “how we achieve it,” with dynamic, tailored programs that transform vulnerability into autonomy, employment, and new projects.
The reality is clear:
- In too many regions, young women have more difficulty accessing work than men.
- Many women in low-income neighborhoods or rural areas are excluded from the formal labor market.
- The women over 50 are invisible despite their experience.
- The migrant women often face a double barrier.
However, when we implement support programs with methodology and follow-up, the results are measurable: more than 70% complete the itinerary and a significant proportion take their first step toward employment or self-employment.
Real impact and business return
Each story of transformation is not only an individual achievement, but also a return for society and for the companies that join in.
Because investing in women is not philanthropy:
- It is business strategy.
- It is reputation.
- It means to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals.
- It is about building connections with local communities..
Today, our model is being rolled out across Spain and Latin America, proving that it is replicable and scalable. What we need now is to increase the number of partners who believe in this vision and want to implement it in their territory.
An open invitation
WOB-IS invites companies and organizations to be part of this movement: because when you invest in women, transformation multiplies.