While 75 percent of men participate in the Venezuelan labor force, only 45 percent of women have that opportunity. That is more than a 25% difference, and compared to their male counterparts, women in Venezuela are 29% less likely to have equal opportunities in politics, the economy and access to education.

Moreover, women's poor education is one of the causal factors of their children's malnutrition. It directly impacts families and affects their children's quality of life in the long-term. These statistics show the reach of gender inequality within Venezuelan borders and the need for supplemental support for single mothers, particularly under crises such as COVID-19, which only exacerbate such disparities.

With Challenge funding, a local organization that works with women is rolling-out a hybrid online and in-person comprehensive 120-hour training curriculum to develop essential skills for food industry entrepreneurship, business development, food production, handling standards and product management. COVID-specific protective protocols have been designed and are set in place to guarantee program implementation.

Also, to address sustainability, trained mothers are using these newly acquired skills to support the expansion of the organization’s organic food products line, opening the possibility to scale their innovative approach to other communities in Venezuela and around the world.

They are leveraging USAID funding to scale their proven pilot program up to 100 mothers, thereby improving the lives of 100 families and their surrounding communities.