180 Women Strengthen Their Autonomy in Cuenca, Ecuador, Through La Ruta 4.0

For two years, La Ruta 4.0 has supported women in situations of human mobility in Cuenca, Ecuador, strengthening their autonomy through training, comprehensive care, and support networks.

The initiative has worked to facilitate access to key rights such as healthcare, employment, and migration regularization, aiming to improve the living conditions of women in vulnerable situations.

Over the past two years, La Ruta 4.0 has become a reference in cooperation with a focus on women’s rights, interculturality, and social justice. Its goal has been to improve the quality of life of women in human mobility in Cuenca, Ecuador, through a comprehensive model tailored to their realities and needs.

In a city like Cuenca, Ecuador—where migratory flows from Venezuela and Colombia converge and structural inequalities persist—La Ruta 4.0 offered more than just assistance: it provided tools, accompaniment, and community. Between 2023 and 2025, 180 women participated in training processes focused on technical skills and soft skills, while also receiving psychosocial support, legal counseling, and participating in community spaces.

Women Who Lead, Networks That Support

La Ruta 4.0 trained 83 women in social entrepreneurship and 77 in employability and citizenship, with 100% satisfaction. A total of 30 self-employment initiatives led by women were strengthened, and 25 women successfully entered the labor market.

The legal dimension was also key: over 200 legal consultations were provided, and 132 families received support in migration regularization processes, greatly exceeding expectations. Four intercultural groups have fostered support networks among Ecuadorian, Colombian, and Venezuelan women, forging bonds that strengthen the social fabric through empathy and solidarity.

These personal processes—often invisible to statistics—demonstrate how access to safe spaces and appropriate support can mark a turning point in the life trajectories of women facing discrimination, uprooting, and multiple forms of violence.

A Route That Connects Territories and Knowledge

La Ruta 4.0 has also strengthened international ties through working visits and exchanges between Cuenca and València. At the beginning of 2025, a delegation from Mensajeros de la Paz – Ecuador visited València with the aim of showcasing the initiative’s progress and building relationships with key Valencian institutions in the field of cooperation. The agenda included institutional meetings with key cooperation stakeholders in València, as well as with the academic team from the master’s program in international cooperation at the Universitat Politècnica de València.

One of the most relevant moments was the participation in a roundtable on social entrepreneurship and inclusion, where challenges and lessons learned were shared around women’s leadership in vulnerable situations. The discussions highlighted the role of entrepreneurship, cooperativism, and social innovation as key tools to foster autonomy and reduce inequalities.

In the spring of 2025, delegations from Jovesólides and ACOEC traveled to Cuenca, Ecuador, where they held institutional meetings, participated in interviews with local media, and spoke directly with beneficiary women. The agenda included a meeting with the Mensajeros de la Paz Ecuador team, a public event to share the initiative’s results at the University of Azuay, and a visit to the Casa de la Mujer to hear testimonies and reflections on the initiative’s impact.

A Replicable Model with a Woman’s Face

La Ruta 4.0 is not just about numbers, but about life stories that now move forward with greater autonomy, confidence, and a sense of community. It has left behind strengthened skills, solid alliances, and a replicable experience that shows how investing in women’s leadership and rights has a profound impact on local development.La Ruta 4.0 is an initiative led by Mensajeros de la Paz Ecuador, ACOEC, and Jovesólides España, with funding from the Vicepresidency and Department of Social Services and the Valencian Cooperation. Follow the latest updates on social media using the hashtag #LaRuta4punto0

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