All pictures courtesy of SANA.

When Lucia Bawot revealed We Belong: An Anthology of Colombian Ladies Espresso Farmers in March 2023, she by no means imagined it will encourage her to launch SANA, an integrative psychosocial program offering psychological well being care and wellness for ladies espresso farmers throughout Latin America.

Bawot had dedicated to sharing proceeds with the ladies featured in her e book, however merely sending cash felt too transactional. 

“At that time, I had constructed actually sturdy relationships with the ladies and their households,” Bawot just lately informed Every day Espresso Information. “They’ve given me far more than I may ever have imagined.”

Bawot wished one thing extra significant — one thing that honored the deep connections she’d fashioned. Throughout her interviews for the e book, many ladies shared tales they’d by no means informed anybody earlier than. 

“It felt like these interviews and areas nearly resembled remedy periods,” Bawot mentioned. “After all I’m not a psychologist, however it had the identical vibe. The ladies felt protected and have been in a position to open up. Emotionally, it was onerous for them and for me.”

Bawot determined to donate the funds to a psychological well being group that would proceed creating protected areas for these ladies to share their voices. She wished one thing that was prime quality and prioritized the social and cultural contexts, whereas additionally being on-line for accessibility. 

Unable to search out a company that match, she created her personal, partnering with two Colombian psychologists. In 2023, 39 Colombian ladies participated in Beans to Thoughts, a pilot program providing teletherapy periods, digital training, group workshops and group assist — all led by native licensed psychologists.

A 12 months later, Bawot interviewed the individuals to evaluate this system’s impression. Their responses moved her. 

“I used to be so shocked as a result of they remembered the whole lot so clearly,” Bawot mentioned. “They have been in a position to say, ‘I’m nonetheless utilizing this,’ or, ‘I’ve been in a position to enhance the relationships with my children or my associate.’” 

The outcomes spoke for themselves: 100% of individuals mentioned the remedy helped them really feel heard and supported, 92% mentioned it resolved life challenges, and 85% valued the distant entry, noting they felt extra comfy expressing themselves with out journey limitations.

“This work was over a 12 months in the past, they usually nonetheless remembered it,” Bawot mentioned. “It felt like this was my calling.”

Referencing the phrase for well being in Spanish, SANA formally launched June 23, providing a five-month program designed to cut back psychological well being stigma, break cycles of silence and supply protected areas the place ladies can share their tales with out judgment.

This system combines a number of approaches, together with a digital curriculum with psychologist assist, teletherapy periods with licensed Colombian psychologists (together with three cellphone surveys and two 60-minute periods), and in-person group workshops specializing in remedy themes, wellness instruments and group constructing. Ten p.c of individuals obtain prolonged three-month care.

Because it launches, SANA goals to enroll 120 Colombian ladies espresso farmers in 2025. Supporters can sponsor one girl with a $25 month-to-month donation or a full group for $250 month-to-month, with the nonprofit Bean Voyage serving as fiscal sponsor, making donations tax-deductible.

The formidable 12 months one objective follows a comparatively easy mission. 

“We would like [women] to be more healthy,” Bawot mentioned. “We don’t need to heal them or diagnose them. We would like them to be more healthy, contemplating the place they’re, what they know, and what they’ll study from themselves.”

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