Change-makers, advocates, allies, supporters: those are some of the words that come to mind when visualizing Puerto Rican feminist non-profit organizations. From providing financial aid and legal assistance to prioritizing women’s rights, these organizations have dedicated their efforts to creating social change.
Although there are tons of organizations working relentlessly to help women on our Island, we’ve compiled a list of five badass, non-profit organizations that you can support on Women’s History Month (or any time of the year).
Help your community to empower women by giving back to local feminist organizations.
- Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer
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In their most recent photography exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer acknowledged and depicted the wide spectrum of feminist voices in Puerto Rico through black and white portraits.
This non-profit organization is made up of a coalition of multiple organizations, emergency shelters, government agencies, human rights activists, and individual members who aim to fight against domestic violence and sexual assault.
Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer not only provides education to those who provide services to gender violence survivors, but it also assists and educates women and families in need. With its interdisciplinary approach to eradicating gender violence, Coordinadora Paz para la Mujer aspires to construct an inclusive and violence-free Puerto Rico.
You can follow them on Instagram at @pazmujer.
- Taller Salud
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The Loíza-based feminist grassroots organization named Taller Salud “aims to enhance women’s access to health, reduce violence in community settings, and foster economic development through education and activism.”
Founded in 1979, Taller Salud seeks to increase public policy for women and community organizing efforts. Throughout the years, this non-profit has contributed to promoting women’s health by assisting in breast cancer and HIV interventions.
Taller Salud believes that “health is a non-negotiable human right” and that “when women prosper, communities are strengthened.”
You can follow them on Instagram at @tallersalud.
- Colectiva Feminista en Construcción
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Described as a “political project from the tradition of Black feminism,” Colectiva Feminista en Construcción (CFC) has played an active role in organizing numerous demonstrations against gender violence in Puerto Rico, including yesterday’s March 8 Coalition, a women-led protest in opposition to governmental leadership amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2018, this organization has been a vocal advocate for the now-declared state of emergency against gender violence on the Island. One of the organization’a main goals is to “fight against the different forms and intersections of oppression and power: racism, sexism, machismo, colonialism, xenophobia, and capitalism.”
You can follow them on Instagram at @colectivafeministapr.
- Proyecto Matria
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Founded in 2004, Proyecto Matria is a community organization that focuses on advancing the economic development of gender violence survivors.
Their innovative approach to eradicate poverty and gender violence strays away from viewing women as victims and empowers them to achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence.
Matria considers that, to achieve gender equity as well as a balance between the needs within all social groups, an approach towards economic development for all women is pivotal.
You can follow them on Instagram at @proyectomatria.
- Cara al Sol
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Born as a social media project, Cara al Sol is currently becoming a non-profit organization dedicated towards educating and advocating against sexual violence in Puerto Rico.
Cara al Sol arose from the need to speak up and raise awareness about a series of social media sexual assault testimonies that occurred during April 2020. Besides producing social media content to make sexual violence a visible topic, Cara al Sol provides orientation and legal counseling to sexual assault survivors.
Furthermore, the organization is committed to tackling access to food and to assist communities with volunteer work and donations. To help continue Cara Al Sol’s efforts, you may donate to its founder, Alysa Alejandro, at (787) 348-0269.
You can follow them on Instagram at @cara.alsol.
If you want to help in our fight against inequality and gender violence, please consider donating to these amazing non-profit organizations. Though in different forms, all of these aspire to build a better place for women to live in.