Keynote March 2026
On March 8th, we recognize International Women’s Day, a day rooted in collective action. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding fair wages, safer working conditions, and political rights. More than a century later, women are still in the streets, because the work of gender justice continues.
International Women’s Day is first a moment of remembrance and solidarity. We honor the generations of women whose organizing, resistance, and collective care have opened pathways for those who came after them. We see that same spirit every day at Creamos — in classrooms, kitchens, and support groups — where women come together to learn, to heal, and to create more equitable futures.
But March 8th is also a call to confront the realities women continue to face. In Guatemala, gender-based violence remains pervasive. Among Creamos’ female-identifying participants, 87% report having experienced violence, abuse, or control from an intimate partner, and more than half of those currently in relationships are living through abuse today. And we know these numbers represent only the stories women felt safe enough to share.
So we continue en la lucha — in the collective struggle for safety, opportunity, and justice.
Each year, we show up to the 8M march in Guatemala City in solidarity with women across our neighborhoods and communities to unite our voices and remind everyone, including ourselves, that we are here and we matter. And every day, we show up to Creamos to continue building programs that expand access to education, economic opportunity, and mental health support so that women can shape their own futures.
To our community of supporters: thank you for showing up for us. Your commitment makes this work possible and helps build a more just future for women and families in Guatemala City.
En solidaridad,
The Creamos Team
Programs Highlights
Women’s Day Brings Awareness, Reflection, and Action
Creamos hosted several activities in the weeks leading up to International Women’s Day. Interactive posters and installations placed throughout the Creamos hallways invited participants to reflect on their own experiences with partner violence and to raise awareness about this issue in Guatemala.
Participants also decorated posters and banners for the Women’s March and marched together as an organization on Sunday. This week, we will host a post-8M picnic to celebrate our community and our collective strength.
Open House Welcomes Future Participants
Last month, Creamos hosted its annual Open House, welcoming 70 interested individuals from the target communities to explore opportunities for their holistic personal and professional development through Creamos’s programs and partners. These individuals learned about and interacted with some incredible partners, including Estudio Café, PriceSmart Guatemala, Programa Valentina, Inciativa Guatemala, and SwissContact.
Please join us for a mindful moment:
Close your eyes for a moment.
Think of a woman who has been important or shaped your life in some way.
Take a deep breath in, feeling gratitude for her impact on you.
Exhale out a hope that all women can be recognized, respected, and appreciated.
Multiple Ways to Support Women this Month!
The march is over, but the work continues.
The women at Creamos are doing the hard, daily work of building better futures, and they shouldn't have to do it alone.
One hour of your pay goes a long way to create opportunities for women working in Guatemala City’s recycling economy.
Donate this month and stand with the women of Creamos — not just on March 8th, but every day.
You can also wear your support!
Stand in solidarity with the women of Creamos by purchasing an 8M shirt for yourself or as a meaningful gift for others! Made by the women of mi eelo, this same shirt was worn by Creamos staff and participants at the march! Every dollar goes directly toward supporting Creamos programs.
Finally, local coffee shop 12 Onzas, which hosts internships for participants in the Workforce Development Program, is selling a special coffee blend this month to celebrate women coffee producers. 15% of the proceeds will be donated to Creamos.
If you’re in Guatemala City or Antigua, be sure to pick up a bag this month!
Staff Highlights
New Team Members
Since January, Creamos has made several important hires worth celebrating!
In January, the Education Program welcomed three new teachers to support math and computer classes: Abraham Bámaca (a former participant and collaborator) for the weekday women’s program, and Alexander Cuxé and Rubén Granados for the Sunday men’s program.
In mi eelo, two former participants—Floridalma and Diana—have been hired to provide leadership and stability in the screenprinting and ___ areas of the business. Additionally, Celeste García joined the team as Sales Coordinator, and Majo Molina as Marketing and E-commerce Assistant.
This month, Creamos is especially excited to announce the internal hiring of Stephany Fuentes as Director of Programs. We are excited for what she will bring to her new role, further strengthening programs and expanding Creamos’s impact.
Finally, the Impact Management team is receiving additional support this semester through the collaboration of two interns: Katie Hoffkins from Boston College’s School of Social Work and Valentina Gaytan from the Canadian Center for International Studies and Cooperation.
Please join us in welcoming all of our new team members!
Networking & Profesional Development
In February, Impact Management Director Eneko Arberas represented Creamos at the conference #DerechosEnRed in his home region of Euskadi (the Basque Country in northern Spain), where he connected with organizations across Spain and shared best practices with others working in similar fields.
Also in February, Executive Director Hannah Sklar and Director of Programs Stephany Fuentes began an eight-month Organizational Leadership training program. Through the course, they will strengthen key skills such as personal leadership, team motivation, systems thinking, and strategic decision-making.