Landaola is an entity that brings together six Rural Development Associations in Gipuzkoa. With the aim of promoting knowledge and interconnection between women living in small towns and rural neighborhoods, the association has launched the Landa Emakumeak Gara project, with the objective of recognizing the contribution of women and making their work visible. The creativity competition is the first initiative that has been organised since the project, which can be presented until 15 October.

Creative competition to encourage reflection

The competition theme will be rural women and coexistence, and the initiative is aimed at women registered in Gipuzkoa. “From the different perspectives we want to gather reflections on the rural world, indigenous women and coexistence,” the organizers affirm. A graphic support (photo, image, drawing, collage…) must be presented, accompanied by a small text of reflection, both being valued at the same level. Work must be submitted on the website Landaola.eus/lehiaketa by 15 October.

The creations received will be distributed in three age categories, and in each of them there will be three prizes: EUR 600 for those left in the first place, 450 for the second and 300 for the third parties. In addition to the jury awards, it will be awarded to the public: one night for two people and a breakfast in a rural house of Gipuzkoa. Once the contest is completed, the papers will be displayed on the Landaola website and an exhibition of the papers presented will be held in December. “The reflections, images and videos that emerge from the creativity competition will also be used as a working tool to use them in dynamics that can later be carried out within the framework of the network work that is intended to be promoted with rural women,” they say.

Mutual knowledge and strengthening of the collective

“With the Landa Emakumeak Gara project, we want to promote spaces for joint reflection on issues that affect women’s lives,” the association said. It is a question of promoting mutual knowledge between the groups of women of the peoples and of the separated, in order to create spaces and collective initiatives from that relationship. On this road towards the visibility of women, more initiatives have also been carried out in Landaola. It is worth mentioning, for example, the section dedicated to rewarding the works of Gipuzkoan women in the primary or rural sector in the Landaola Awards.

“Although the work of these women is key in their lives, it is unfortunately unknown to the rest of society,” they explain from the association. However, they say that in recent years there has been a change: “Women have taken the path of socializing and claiming the fundamental role they play and are taking steps in individual and collective empowerment.” Well, the goal of this new project is to drive this change and contribute to deepening this empowerment.