Celebrating the strength of mothers

Across cultures and continents, a mother is often the glue that holds together the fabric of not only her family, but her community as well.

Beyond giving life, she exudes strength as she nurtures her family — teaching love, compassion and endurance. She serves as caregiver, breadwinner, counselor and advocate.

And sometimes, she is the lifeblood of both her household and community as her family and neighbors wrestle with poverty and the hardships that can accompany geographical isolation, climate risks and other dangers.

The much beloved and recently deceased Pope Francis said, “Mothers are the strongest antidote to the spread of selfish individualism. … A society without mothers would be inhuman, because mothers always — even in the worst moments — are able to bear witness to tenderness, devotion, and moral strength.”

At Unbound, the critical role that mothers play has long been recognized, celebrated and encouraged.

The strength and resilience of a mother

At just 25, in a small community in the central Sierra region of Ecuador, Edelyn has faced challenges that many would find hard to imagine, resulting in hardship, sacrifice and pain. Yet, through it all, she stands as a testament to the fierce strength that defines so many mothers.

Becoming a mother at 18, Edelyn has always done all she can to provide for her son, Myke, 7. She milked cows for some time until she was injured by a bull. Edelyn then worked in a bakery, but long hours and low pay kept her from the one thing she valued most: time with her son.

Eventually, Edelyn found a more stable job at a motorcycle workshop and managed to scrape by. Then, on Dec. 17, 2023, tragedy struck when a gas tank explosion in their home left Edelyn and Myke with severe burns on their faces and hands. The pain was excruciating. The medical bills were overwhelming. And in the aftermath, Edelyn said that she and Myke’s father separated, leaving her to care for Myke alone.

But Edelyn remained steadfast. She leaned in. With no resources of her own, Edelyn turned to Unbound, which provided critical needs funding to cover surgeries, medications and ongoing treatment. Community support — emotional, financial and spiritual — became her foundation. Despite enduring five surgeries, she remained focused on one goal: her son's recovery.

“What I long for is to see my son healthy, cured, studying and achieving what I couldn't achieve,” Edelyn said. “Putting faith in God, I know that at some point he will be fine.”

Now living in a rented home near her parents, Edelyn continues working and caring for Myke with unrelenting devotion. Her financial challenges are real, but her hope is limitless.

“I can say that poverty is very complicated for me ... although I am a person who has my financial limitations, I have found happiness and managed to get ahead, and I have raised my son.”

Every day, Edelyn shows her son and community what it means to be a mother who is powerful, persistent and deeply rooted in love.

An empowered mother is unstoppable

It is clear mothers shape not only the lives of their children, but the spirit and development of entire communities. Empowering women — particularly mothers — is key in the fight against poverty. No one exemplifies this better than Johanna Maribel.

In the mist-covered hills of central Ecuador, Johanna Maribel begins each day with determination. At just 26, she balances raising her two young children — Jaden, 7, and Kerli, 4 — while working as a shoemaker, a trade she entered as a young girl when continuing school was no longer an option.

But Johanna is not one to settle for what life handed her. She is part of a growing force in her community: mothers who lead. Through the support of Unbound, Johanna has been able to ensure Jaden receives support for his education and health — something she never had for herself. And her impact doesn’t stop with her own family.

As a leader in the Well-being for our Children mothers group, Johanna has become a vital connector — organizing meetings, helping other mothers and listening when others feel unheard.

Recently, Johanna and her group took their work a step further. When rain began leaking through the worn-out roof of the local school, affecting more than 185 students, including her own child, she led the charge to make it right. The mothers saw a need, presented a proposal, and it was accepted and funded via an Agents of Change grant.

The successful renovation provides students throughout the community with the ability to attend classes in a safe and dry environment. It is a tangible, positive step toward enabling children to pursue their dreams and a physical reminder of what is possible when mothers are given the tools, trust and support to create solutions.

While Johanna acknowledges the difficulty in having and talking about dreams when living under dire financial circumstances, she works hard to ensure her children, and the children in her community, can one day reach their goals, including her son’s wish to be a firefighter.

“As a mother I would dream that my children are someone in life,” Johanna said. “And that would be a happy thing for a mother, that they can fulfill their wishes and do everything possible so that they can fulfill them."

Empowered mothers like Johanna aren’t just shaping their children's futures — they’re rebuilding schools, lifting up neighbors and proving that when women lead, entire communities rise.

These strong, caring and empowered mothers remind us that motherhood is not defined by circumstance, but by the depth of one’s love and sacrifice. They deserve recognition, celebration and support. This Mother’s Day, and every day, we honor the mothers everywhere who quietly overcome obstacles to strengthen themselves, their families and their communities.

Unbound regional reporter Josué Sermeño contributed information and photos for this story.