Back to Perla
July 20, 2005
Listín Diario, Santo Domingo, DR
Courses for today's woman
by ALEXEI TELLERIAS
Santo Domingo – Being a woman today is not the same as, say, ten years ago. Every day society seems to demand new things from the female gender, and on top of that there remain many past issues that lack resolution.
The women’s group PERLA (an acronym that stands for Wholeness, Hope, Wealth, Freedom and Love) has begun a 10-week class called Ser Mujer Hoy (Being a Woman Today). Its primary objective is to develop and strengthen of self-esteem in individuals and in groups of women. PERLA is part of the Escuela de Formación Socioeconómica y Cultural in Santo Domingo.
According to Berenice Pacheco, PERLA’s coordinator, this class was designed as a structure in which to discuss and rethink self-image, health, decision-making, and self-esteem, among other topics. The idea of the course is that today’s women can be more empowered and can form healthier perceptions of themselves.
These weekly classes go far beyond the traditional classes for women on “refinement” or “etiquette and protocol.” Here, women are taught gender history, stress and time management, skin care, and wholeness in family and spousal relationships. The facilitators are women who are well-versed in these subjects.
“What we’re hoping for,” Berenice said, “is for women to improve their self-image and have more resources and knowledge to take on the daily issues they face as mothers, employees, wives, or simply as citizens.”
This course is held on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at the offices of PERLA, at Benigno Filomeno Rojas #153, University District. For more information or to sign up for the next class, please call (809) 476-6106 or (809) 430-0705.
