AES El Salvador, in conjunction with the Fundación Empresarial para la Acción Social (FUNDEMAS), held the twelfth edition of the workshop “AES Mujer - Empretec”, from which 21 women entrepreneurs graduated to promote their sustainable economic development.

During the technical training process, the participants learned how to create a business plan, meet potential clients, strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, and apply new technologies to promote their products.

For the first time, AES developed this workshop in the western part of the country, benefiting women from the department of Santa Ana. Some of the graduates are relatives of workers of the energy distribution company AES CLESA, while others are users of the Instituto Salvadoreño para el Desarrollo de la Mujer (ISDEMU).

Among the beneficiaries is Johana Hernández, an artist from the district of Chalchuapa, Santa Ana, who a couple of years ago started her business of painting mandalas (symbolic spiritual representations) with the aim of bringing peace and tranquility to the women of her town.

"I felt I lacked knowledge to better understand my clients. Now, with the AES Mujer-Empretec workshop, I have learned techniques to be more competitive and attract new investors”, said Johana.

A similar opinion comes from Idalia, a beekeeper from Santa Ana who graduated from the program: “I always dreamed of having a business that would take care of the bees and the environment. Now that I have it, thanks to Empretec I am learning the necessary techniques to obtain the best profitability from my products”, she said.

With this entrepreneurial training program, AES and Fundemas have a positive impact on the entrepreneurial culture of salvadoran women, promoting inclusion and women's economic empowerment.

Translated by: A.M