Violeta 29  Guadelupe, Ecuador
Phil Borges

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Violeta grew up in an indigenous and male-dominated culture.  Though a vast majority of Shuar girls drop out of school to get married in their mid-teens, Violeta both completed high school and – while pregnant with her third child – earned a teaching degree.  Today Violeta has become the first woman leader in her traditionally “machista” society.  Now Violeta is teaching women and girls lessons on gender equity and cooperation.  Violeta said that the social fabric is slowly changing.  Woman may now pursue money making activities and are not confined to their traditional roles of cooking, cleaning and child rearing.