Young Women Drummers

When this group of young women walks into the room, the first thing that strikes you is how confident and poised they are. As participants in a project that combines a stipend to cover school expenses with training to become sexual health educators in their communities, it is amazing that these young women have also found the time to found in the first rural, all-female batucada, or drum circle, in the country.

This project, sponsored by SHARE with its partner organization the Institute of Women’s Development, Research and Training (IMU), has achieved its goal of turning these young women into empowered youth leaders. In addition to benefiting the ten young women receiving scholarship, their training has also clearly helped their communities.

“We feel good about ourselves and that is the most important. Music is another way for us to express ourselves.”

After learning about topics like how STD’s are transmitted or preventing teen pregnancy, each of the young women teaches the material to three more women in their community. The girls are committed to sharing their knowledge because people in their rural communities don’t have access to this information. At first, the girls faced discrimination for their work: some were called prostitutes, some were told they only wanted to learn about sexual and reproductive rights to engage in sexual activities, and others were nearly expelled from school. With each other’s support, these brave young women faced the criticisms and continued with their work, and have now gained the respect of their communities and families.

Although they have schoolwork and chores at home, the batucada is a priority for these inspiring young women. Marielos shares: “We feel good about ourselves and that is the most important. Music is another way for us to express ourselves.” The group is clearly excited as they talk about an upcoming performance. Their animated faces show their pride that they are the only all-female drum circle that will be taking the stage.

All three components of the project—providing a stipend to pay for high school, training them to be sexual health educators in their communities, and forming the batucada—have been life changing for these young women. They have gained confidence, leadership skills, and a real sense of purpose in their community.

“We’re lucky to have had this opportunity because it has helped us in our lives. Now we’re not afraid to speak up for ourselves,” said Karla, another participant in the project,

Learn more about this project.

Read related posts on our blog:
Where Drumming and Sex Ed Meet in El Salvador