At HBX Group, we recognize that access to opportunities and gender equality are essential for economic and social development. This International Women's Day, we want to highlight the important yet often under-recognized role of women in rural communities. Despite facing challenges such as limited access to resources and leadership opportunities, these women have long had a significant impact on their communities, and today, their efforts are receiving the recognition they deserve.

Through our Think Big volunteering programme, we aim to work alongside these communities, with our female volunteers engaging in a mutual exchange of skills and knowledge that contributes to everyone’s growth.

Think Big is our corporate volunteering project that aims to develop sustainable micro-destinations, contributing to the strengthening of local economies and the improvement of social conditions in rural communities. The project works with local cooperatives to improve their infrastructure, digitise tourism products, and enhance their visibility in the market.

One of the cooperatives we work with is located in Punta Allen, Mexico, a small and picturesque fishing village situated at the southern tip of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Quintana Roo. Known for its focus on ecotourism, Punta Allen offers activities like birdwatching, snorkeling, fishing, slow food experiences, and exploration of the diverse ecosystems within the reserve.

In Punta Allen, women are beginning to take on a pivotal role in community tourism. Until recently, there were no women in the local tourism cooperatives, but today, five women have managed to integrate, marking a milestone towards gender equality and economic empowerment.

International Women's Day: empowering women through volunteering and community tourism

Volunteering in Think Big has been a transformative experience for many, offering participants the opportunity to develop new skills, learn from local realities, and establish meaningful connections. Volunteers can expand their professional and personal horizons.

In this project, female volunteers and women from the communities have the chance to share what they know and learn from each other, despite both coming from the same sector: tourism, but with different approaches.

Volunteers bring their expertise in areas such as digital marketing or project management, while local women contribute their knowledge of managing tourism resources, local traditions, and sustainability. This exchange of skills and knowledge enriches both sides, helping women develop new capabilities and feel more empowered within their communities.