Women’s circles in Guatemala

Buena Semilla Women’s Circles are community-led support groups to improve participating women’s agency, psychosocial health and wellbeing, and impact the health of mothers and children across generations.

They are open to all, but encourage the participation of particularly vulnerable women, including single and adolescent mothers, victims of violence, women in extreme poverty or who are experiencing psychosocial distress.

The model was created through ongoing Participatory Research, starting in 2009 in rural Mam communities of San Juan Ostuncalco, Quetzaltenango. Local women co-designed the methodology and content of the intervention.