Outonía: Feminist and Community Innovation from Rural Galicia

Outonía is a feminist cooperative in rural Galicia working to build feminist and community innovation from the mountains of Lugo and Ourense. Their mission is to prove that rural life is not a thing of the past—it’s a living space where collective care and education shape new ways of being.

A cooperative rooted in the rural

Founded in 2021 by three social educators —Tania, Paula, and Araceli— Outonía was born from the desire to move from individual practice to collective action and bring social education closer to the rural territories they call home.

Today, the team combines social education and cultural expertise to design social and educational solutions tailored to the challenges of small, depopulated villages—some with fewer than 30 residents. Living and working in these communities is both a challenge and a strength: it allows them to build change from within.

What Outonía does

Outonía’s work spans five interconnected areas that promote gender equality, community resilience, and sustainable living across rural Galicia:

• Education and social participation – Co-education workshops in schools, family engagement programs, and participatory projects that strengthen local bonds.

• Community empowerment – Group facilitation with women and youth, feminist leadership programs, and initiatives to prevent gender-based violence.

• Consulting and social research – Gender and rural mainstreaming, equality plans, project design, and fundraising support for grassroots organizations.

• Environmental education – Creative workshops that combine art, recycling, and nature to foster responsible consumption and environmental awareness.

• Rural mediation and cultural revitalization – Joint projects with local entities, community mapping, and initiatives such as the Mutant Laboratory, a space for collective reflection on rural futures.

Through these lines of work, Outonía challenges the idea that the countryside is just a place to look at or remember. They show that the rural world is alive, diverse, and full of feminist innovation.

Why their work matters

Outonía dismantles stereotypes about rural life—especially those that romanticize “the rural woman” as a tireless caretaker or heroine. These narratives hide the invisible labor, inequalities, and lack of opportunities that women face in remote areas.

Their projects create new role models for girls and young people growing up in rural settings, proving that a meaningful future can be built right where they are. At the same time, their work highlights the vital role that rural communities play in addressing climate change, depopulation, and the social impacts of urbanization.

Strengthening the cooperative through women’s funds

Like many grassroots initiatives, Outonía faced structural challenges related to economic sustainability and team well-being — from covering maternity leave to managing workload and diversifying income.

With financial support from Calala – Women’s Fund, one of the five funds that make up the global collaborative Fund Her Now, the cooperative took a decisive step toward stability and growth:

• They were able to cover the maternity leave of one of their members.

• They hired a new permanent team member, which reduced workload, improved internal organization, and enabled access to new projects and funding streams.

This support not only strengthened their financial sustainability but also deepened their commitment to feminist economics, care, and work-life balance.

“We were afraid of growing because we thought growth meant losing sustainability. In the end, we understood that sometimes to save an organization, more people need to join. Thanks to the Fund’s support, we now have a stronger team, better care practices, and a more diverse source of income.”

Building the rural future collectively

Outonía’s story shows that women’s funds do much more than provide financial resources — they help sustain social and organizational transformation in territories facing multiple structural challenges.

Today, Outonía continues to lead social education, community innovation, and feminist action across rural Galicia. Their journey proves that with collective support, it is possible to strengthen projects that care for both people and the land.