EL ALTO, Bolivia – In the wake of a violent attack that nearly cost her life, Lidia Mayta of Bolivia found empowerment through the practice of taekwondo. Three years later, she now helps train Indigenous women to defend themselves against the pervasive gender-based violence plaguing their country.
Mayta’s journey towards empowerment began when neighbors came to her rescue as she was being attacked by would-be robbers outside her front door. This harrowing experience motivated her to never feel as helpless again, leading her to join a women-only taekwondo class at the Warmi Power studio in El Alto, Bolivia’s second-largest city.
Warmi Power, meaning “woman” in the Quechua language, was founded by Laura Roca and Kimberly Nosa, both taekwondo black belts, in 2015. The studio aims to equip women with the skills needed to defend themselves, emphasizing that violence is not the answer but self-defense can be life-saving.
Mayta’s involvement in the training program led to her becoming part of the coaching team, where she plays a crucial role in translating instructions into Aymara, another indigenous language spoken in Bolivia. Her dedication to empowering other women stems from her own transformation from a victim to a defender.
The alarming statistics on gender-based violence in Bolivia, with eight out of 10 women experiencing physical violence at least once in their lives, highlight the urgent need for initiatives like Warmi Power. In 2023 alone, over 51,000 women reported incidents of violence, with husbands or partners identified as the main perpetrators in the majority of cases.
Through their taekwondo training, Mayta, Roca, Nosa, and the rest of the team at Warmi Power have reached over 35,000 women across the country, providing them with the tools and confidence to protect themselves. In their classes in El Alto, a significant number of Indigenous women engaged in informal trade participate, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those seeking to defend themselves against violence.
Overall, Mayta’s story, alongside the efforts of Warmi Power, serves as a beacon of hope and empowerment for women in Bolivia facing the harsh realities of gender-based violence. Their mission to prevent violence through self-defense training underscores the importance of collective action in creating a safer society for all.