FON Latin America Regional Meeting 2024: Emotion as the Driving Force behind Feminist Activism

By: Alejandra Garcia

In our work in the development sector, we often speak about impact, collaborations, and efficiency. Today, I want to talk about all of this again, but from a different angle—the emotions I experienced with the women, men, and diverse individuals who shared their stories with us.

For four days, we lived alongside people whose personal histories were deeply moving. Mothers searching for their missing daughters. Women who spent years in prison for no reason, only to be released one day with a simple: “We made a mistake. We were looking for someone else.” Women with disabilities, survivors of domestic violence, who, even at 70, continue to fight for justice for other survivors.

For four days, I witnessed how the personal is deeply political. Mothers who dedicate their lives to finding missing girls—even if they never find their own. Women wrongfully imprisoned who, upon release, study law and commit their lives to seeking justice for others unjustly incarcerated.

For four days, I experienced generosity beyond measure. These individuals did not just share their work with us—they shared their lives.

We also practiced autocuidado—self-care and collective care. Each morning, we started with self-care sessions. Throughout the day, spaces were available to retreat, rest, create, and disconnect when emotions became overwhelming. We painted, sewed, meditated—finding ways to process the depth of what we were experiencing.

For four days, we healed. Through the scents of herbs, the rhythm of the rain (that never stops in Bogotá), the warmth of the sun, the sound of rivers and waterfalls. We realized that we are our own medicine, that we hold the power to transform pain into something else.

For four days, we built connections—through active listening, compassion, and empathy.

I want to honor these people, whom our FON program has the privilege to support, as they defend fundamental rights in all their diversity. They do this work every day, with limited resources, under constant threats and risks. And yet, they do it with conviction, commitment, emotion, love, and joy.

In a world increasingly defined by confrontation, competition, insult, and fear of the Other, we feminists affirm, now more than ever, the urgent necessity of joy, emotion, and care—for ourselves and for each other.

Feminist Opportunities Now (FON) Project

FON contributes to the eradication of gender-based violence worldwide through flexible funding. The Feminist Opportunities Now (FON) project aims to strengthen feminist movements by providing grants, particularly to small, unregistered organizations. With a budget of 7 million euros, FON also offers long-term mentoring and tailored training. Additionally, the project includes an action-research component to ensure the expansion and sustainability of these approaches.