Yogi Super Foods promotes gender equality and women´s empowerment.

We are aware that, in pursuit of a better world, we must act quickly. Everyday, we are working to cover all of the goals of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. The prerequisites of the fifth goal, gender equality and women's empowerment, require equal rights, conditions, and opportunities for both women and men, girls, and boys.

There is a quote that says, To get momentum, you must focus on a specific goal with passion and intensity´´. That is exactly what the United Nations (UN) specified in September 2015 in order to lead the world towards a sustainable and equitable future, beginning on January 1, 2016, until 2030. In contemplation of this goal, the UN set 17 goals for sustainable development by balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development, which are the economic, social, and environmental dimensions. They are the following:

1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water and sanitation
7. Affordable and clean energy
8. Decent work and economic growth
9. Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and communities
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
14. Life below water
15. Life on land
16. Peace, justice, and strong institutions
17. Partnerships

Yogi Super Foods is aware that, for lack of a better word, we must act quickly. Every day, we are working to cover all of the goals of the 2030 agenda. Today we are handling eight of the seventeen goals. The prerequisites of the fifth goal, gender equality and women's empowerment, require equal rights, conditions, and opportunities for both women and men, girls and boys. When these pillars are achieved, people have the same power to shape their lives and contribute to the development of society. Additionally, these opportunities contribute to decreasing poverty and increasing economic productivity by opening doors in the economy and labor market.

Moreover, we handle the fifth target of ´´gender equality and women's empowerment, which is to ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in economic life. As the founder, Marco Barbi, mentioned, ´´the majority of our staff is women, and Miriam has a leadership position, specifically in administration. She is in charge of organizing and instructing staff and making the necessary decisions so that all administrative processes are successfully achieved to meet the company's established goals and objectives. The digital marketing manager interviewed some of the woman´s staff in order to share with you the story behind their job.

How have Yogi Super Foods contributed to your well-being?

Their answers were:

Candelaria: ´´Yogi Super Foods has provided me with emotional and mental well-being. I have excelled spiritually and socially and empowered myself. Through inspirational messages present in every product and meditation, thanks to the 40-week meditation challenge´´.

Miriam: ´´Well, in the positive aspect, one of the biggest challenges in my professional life has been working at Yogi Super Foods. I have learned a lot about healthy eating as I have seen the quality and benefits of each product. Additionally, I have an awesome employment relationship with my coworkers. I am really happy to be part of Yogi Super Foods because of its entrepreneurial spirit and because it provides working opportunities and gender equality´´. 

Fernanda: ´´Yogi Super Foods has given me the opportunity to do what I love, which is cooking, having a healthy lifestyle, inspiring my soul, and capturing delicious recipes. My work fulfills me in all aspects and has allowed me to watch the elaboration of all the products. Also, mentally and emotionally, it has empowered me and provided independence and awesome coworkers´´.

Martha: ´´I love Yogi Super Foods´ products, especially gomasio, a Japanese condiment made from sesame seeds mixed with Himalayan salt, and the gluten-free granola. The company has provided me with the habit of meditation, which gives me peace and concentration´´.

Evelyn: ´´As I am doing my nutrition internship at Yogi Super Foods, I have learned some of the products, their benefits, and their nutritional value´´. 

Unfortunately, in Guatemala, we are far from gender equality. Also, women are underrepresented in power and decision-making roles and have unequal pay for equal work. But we know that if we focus on the actions we can control, we can get closer to this goal. As you can see, we promote women's empowerment by increasing their sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others. We want both women and men to have the same opportunities to reach their full potential.

REFERENCES

Government Offices of Sweden. (2015). Goal 5: Gender equality. https://www.government.se/government-policy/the-global-goals-and-the-2030-Agenda-for-sustainable-development/goal-5-gender-equality/ 

International Labour Organization and United Nations Women. (2019). Empower Women. https://www.government.se/government-policy/the-global-goals-and-the-2030-Agenda-for-sustainable-development/goal-5-gender-equality/ 

World Vision Australia. (2022). Understanding Women's Empowerment. https://www.worldvision.com.au/womens-empowerment/