The first (and on-going) project of WILI has been to support the economic development efforts of
indigenous women with disabilities in Oaxaca, Mexico. The women plan to develop a restaurant in
the city of Oaxaca that would employ women with disabilities in all areas of restaurant management,
include administrative activities, food preparation, food serving, and cleanup. The restaurant
is a project of an organization which exists in Oaxaca, The Association of Women with Disabilities
in Oaxaca (AMUDO).
WILI's planned support of the AMUDO restaurant includes funding to purchase
kitchen equipment, and the training of women with disabilities in restaurant management and
appropriate work habits. The training is to be provided through the Café Poca Cosa in Tucson.
Training will continue in Oaxaca on a periodic basis through capacity-building workshops
(group training) after the opening of the restaurant and during its first year of operation.
During the past year, we have struggled along with the women in Oaxaca for them to obtain
visas to visit the United States for their training (see attached commentary); however,
after the advocacy of columnist Ernesto Portillo, the support of Congressman Kolbe of
Tucson, and the determination of the women in Oaxaca to return to the U.S. Embassy in
Mexico City three times, permission was granted for two women to receive training in
Tucson during August and September. A formal evaluation of this training experience is posted below.
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