OUR STORY

TEJIDAS was founded in Italy following a meeting between Emma Quiroga and Isabel Vargas, two Bolivian professionals who, drawing on their own experiences of migration and those of various women around them, identified a reality that recurred all too often: highly qualified Latin American women who, upon arriving in Europe, found it difficult to realise their full professional potential.

That realisation gave rise to a question that would mark the beginning of this project: How can we facilitate the development of Latin American women in Europe?

The search for answers led them to connect with other professionals who shared the same concern: Aideé Caza, an Ecuadorian based in Germany, and Paola Castro, a Colombian based in France. Despite living in different countries, coming from different professional disciplines and having solid track records in their areas of specialisation, the four of them agreed on one fundamental point: the talent, experience and knowledge of Latin American women represent enormous potential that deserves greater opportunities for visibility, connection and growth.

That’s how TEJIDAS was born.

We weave connections that create opportunities.

A network created to connect Latin American women in Europe, strengthen their support networks, promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge, and generate opportunities that foster their personal, professional, and economic development.

From our very first meetings, we identified common challenges: the difficulty of accessing opportunities aligned with their professional training, the need to expand their networks, the challenges of integration, and the importance of well-being and economic autonomy for building a fulfilling life in a new environment.

That is why we work to create spaces where women can meet, learn from one another, share their knowledge, raise awareness of their projects, and build new opportunities through collaboration, trust, and reciprocity.

We were founded in Italy, but from the very beginning we built a network with a European focus. Today we continue to forge connections among women from different countries, convinced that when talent comes together, opportunities grow.

WHY WAS TEJIDAS FOUNDED?

TEJIDAS emerged from the personal experiences of its founders and a reality shared by thousands of Latin American women in Europe.

Labor Market and Professional Recognition

• In the European Union, 37.7% of women born outside the EU are overqualified for their current jobs, compared to 33.7% of men in the same situation (Eurostat, 2025)

• Spain is home to the largest Latin American migrant population in Europe, with 4.25 million people, accounting for 48% of the total immigrant population. However, paradoxically, those who arrive with higher levels of education have lower employment rates than those with less education. The recognition of academic credentials takes time, and the labor market often pushes them toward sectors unrelated to their education (Real Instituto Elcano, 2024).

• Latin American women make up the majority in occupations such as domestic work, representing 53% of those engaged in this activity in Spain, even though many have college degrees.

Identified Barriers

Based on their own experiences and conversations with other Latin American women in Europe, the founders identified recurring challenges that limit their professional and personal development:

• Professional invisibility: The contributions of Latin American women in Europe often go unnoticed, and they frequently face stereotypes that do not reflect their education or experience.

• Professional language skills: Learning a language for everyday life is not the same as mastering it in a professional setting, which can limit access to new opportunities.

• Integration and access to opportunities: Connecting with one’s community of origin fosters a sense of belonging, but the lack of bridges to the host society can slow down integration and access to information, training, and professional networks.

• Well-being and financial independence: The demands of the migration process often leave little room for self-care, mental health, and building financial independence.

What Our Community Told Us

When we surveyed our community, the results confirmed what we had already observed in our own experiences.

• 79% prioritized emotional well-being over any other issue.

• 54% cited financial independence and employment or entrepreneurship as their second-highest priority.

These realities highlight the need to create more spaces for connection, learning, visibility, and opportunities for Latin American women who are building their personal and professional lives in Europe.

TEJIDAS was created to transform these challenges into opportunities, weaving connections that foster the growth of Latin American women in Europe.

Join this story

If you see yourself in this journey, or if you want to be part of it as a mentor or as part of the community, this is your place. Let's weave it together.