Rosa: Finding Her Voice and Transforming Her Community
Table of Contents
When Rosa Idalia Caballero first joined a training process with Acción Joven in 2024, she did so on behalf of her father, who was a member of the Committee of Relatives of Disappeared Migrants of Copán, a territory in western Honduras, near the border with Guatemala.
At the time, Rosa was shy and reserved. She struggled to express herself and knew little about her sexual and reproductive rights or about civic participation. She was also carrying a profound pain: her brother had disappeared while migrating. That silent grief, combined with the lack of safe spaces, made it hard for her to see herself as a young woman and an emerging leader.
Something shifted, however, when Rosa joined Acción Joven’s workshops, supported by the We Lead program. There, she found a space that felt like family. Even when she had to travel long distances without transportation—through rain and difficult roads—she never missed a session. For the first time, she felt seen, heard, and valued. That’s where her transformation began.
Transformative training processes
Through trainings on women’s human rights, sexual and reproductive health, emergency contraception (EC), menopause, and civic participation, Rosa gained tools she had never had before. She learned how to name her experience, understand her rights, and speak with confidence. Equally important were the self-care and art therapy sessions. As she wove a beautiful bag, Rosa realized that healing, making time to pause, and caring for herself were not luxuries—they were powerful acts of dignity for a young woman who had always put others first.
The civic participation workshop marked a turning point. Rosa moved from hesitating to speak to naming her community’s challenges with clarity and confidence. She learned how to demand answers from the State about cases of disappeared migrants and, in the process, recognized her own power and agency. It was clear she was becoming a leader.
Rosa’s growth soon showed in new ways. When Acción Joven organized commemorative, testimonial, artistic, and awareness-raising activities in Tegucigalpa—part of the advocacy effort to advance the Law on Protection for Disappeared Migrants and Their Families—Rosa stepped forward and participated actively. It was her first time joining a public advocacy action, and her joy was unmistakable. She connected with other women, they listened to one another, and together they spoke out for their rights.
Close and strategic accompaniment
We Lead provided technical, methodological, and political support to ensure these processes were feminist, intersectional, and inclusive. This support strengthened Acción Joven’s technical team and helped young women, especially those affected by migration and displacement, claim their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Rosa became a powerful example of what that support can make possible.
After completing the training, Rosa changed in visible ways. She now participates with confidence, helps energize community spaces, and communicates with clarity. During the self-care workshop, she took the lead: she invited women to attend, kept track of participant lists, called those who were absent, and made sure everyone arrived. Her leadership began to flourish.
A voice that drives change
Today, Rosa is a trusted young leader in her community. She encourages other young women to get involved and shares information about sexual rights, reproductive rights, and human rights in the context of migration. Her growth did not only strengthen her personally; it also strengthened the Committee of Relatives of Disappeared Migrants and Acción Joven’s work. The organization now has young women who are leading and sharing what they have learned with others.
The impact of Rosa’s transformation reaches the personal, community, and organizational levels. Her story shows that young women in rural areas, too often overlooked, need more than recognition. They need safe spaces where they can heal, build knowledge, develop leadership, and claim what is rightfully theirs.
Rosa’s story is proof that when a young woman recognizes her own power, she can change not only her life, but her community as well.
Photo gallery of Acción Joven: during the training process and in commemorative and awareness‑raising activities:
