Female entrepreneurs in Uruguay
The Luces para Aprender (lights for learning) project started in Uruguay in 2014. In under 2 years we achieved our goal: 100% of rural schools in Uruguay now have electricity and Internet access. A second phase of the project was then proposed; to take advantage of the solar panels that were still available.
As part of the first phase of the second stage of the project, the decision was made to install the panels at community enterprises, and the first panels were installed at a women's culinary and cultural project on the Rocha Lagoon. Cocina de la Barra aims to add value to traditional fishing on the Rocha Lagoon, defending local culture and the work, history and traditions of women in the local community. This culinary venture emerged four years ago and is led by "women, fishermen, mothers and wives of fishermen living on the Rocha Lagoon".
In 2018, the Elecnor Foundation installed a Solar PV system that allows them to store seafood in optimal conditions, to use the kitchen appliances they need for food preparation and to light the restaurant at night. In short, they were given the opportunity to develop their business, to continue growing.
At the time, the new business owners remarked, "It was like touching heaven with our bare hands; honestly, it was extremely necessary and it gives us some peace of mind and the opportunity to grow" and "this place is paradise, but if the local communities have no future or opportunity for development, paradise is just a picture on a postcard".
We are mentioning this exciting project again because last week the Elecnor Foundation, UTE (Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas — Uruguay's government-owned power company) and the OEI (Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos — Organization of Ibero-American States) shared, promoted and participated in the collective painting of murals at the establishment in order to improve the facilities at Cocina de la Barra.
Take a look at this video, don't miss out on the beautiful scenery of the Rocha Lagoon, a protected area that forms part of Uruguay's National System of Protected Areas (SNAP) and the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves:
