Catherine, International Development and Globalization,
Alternatives, Honduras
Federación de Organizaciones de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras del Sector Social de la Economía de Honduras (FOTSSIEH),
Research Officer on Violence Against Women in the Informal Economy in Honduras
Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped our reality. What’s interesting about this experience is that, over time, you start to adapt and even appreciate certain aspects of it, particularly the physical “comfort” it provides. Isn’t it only fair to commend the University of Ottawa for its determination and commitment to maintaining a global outlook through virtual placements? Hats off and sincere gratitude to everyone involved, whose efforts and support have ensured that these internships remain as enriching and rewarding as possible.
In the fall of 2021, I completed my internship with FOTSSIEH (Federación de Organizaciones de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras del Sector Social y Informal de la Economía de Honduras). This Honduran organization is a local partner of Alternatives, a Canadian international solidarity NGO dedicated to sustainable development through innovation, social justice, inclusion, networking, and social movements.
I had always dreamed of experiencing this opportunity in person, fully immersing myself in the environment. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—being at the end of my undergraduate studies, I had no choice but to adapt to what was available. As the saying goes, "If you can’t have your mother, you nurse from your grandmother." In other words, when you can’t have what you truly want, you make do with what you have. That said, the internship office at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Alternatives, and FOTSSIEH have done an excellent job in structuring activities to create a virtual immersion. Of course, it requires a lot of research, extensive reading, and personal initiative to meet one’s expectations and give the assignment its own unique and meaningful dimension. If I can’t walk through the streets of Tegucigalpa or savor authentic Honduran cuisine, I can at least stay updated on current affairs, watch novelas hondureñas, listen to punta and catracha music—and why not even try cooking Honduran recipes? These small things help me discover and better understand the historical, political, economic, and socio-cultural realities of the country.
For the past few weeks, my role as a research officer on violence against women in Honduras’ informal economy has been going well. Since it is a research-based role, I don’t feel a major disconnect between academic activities and professional work—especially as we are still in the literature review phase. The more I delve into this topic, the more I realize how crucial it is to address the vulnerability faced by women in the informal sector. What makes this form of violence in Honduras particularly alarming is that, in most cases, public authorities—such as the police and municipalities—are the perpetrators of these abuses, particularly regarding the occupation of public spaces. Our goal is to develop a tool to help prevent and reduce these acts of violence and support victims, and I’m proud to contribute, even in a small way, to this effort.
I also want to acknowledge and commend FOTSSIEH’s dedication to driving change in this area. The organization does incredible work on the ground, advocating for women’s rights through dialogue and negotiations with public authorities, training member associations on various issues, and providing medical and psychological support to victims.