Empowering Indigenous Women Toward Economic Sovereignty
Economic �Exclusion | Identity �Erosion | Lack of �Infrastructure |
Distance from markets, and a lack of the technology and skills needed to bridge that gap. | Systems reward assimilation, so identity becomes a liability instead of an asset. | Basic needs such as clean water, internet connectivity, technology and community spaces remain unmet. |
The Challenge: Inequality | | |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Title | Title |
Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 | Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Prelanzamiento de la Fundación Sara Omi
Why It Matters
70.8%�of people in the Comarca Emberá-Wounaan live in multidimensional poverty, compared with 19.1% nationally.
Impact Potential�90% �of women who received microfinance loans reported higher business income, and 79% said their children gained better access to education.
Sources: INEC / MEF Multidimensional Poverty Index (2017); 60 Decibels Microfinance Index, 2025 - Opportunity International
Sara's Legacy
Sara Omi opened doors that had long been closed to Indigenous women, becoming the first Emberá woman lawyer in Panama and carrying the voice of her people to global forums and regional institutions.
The Foundation’s purpose is to make Sara’s path a shared one, so the next generation can lead, earn and be heard on their own terms.
Select Recognitions & Awards
“Today we are building a Foundation which connects with all the work I have been developing over years, and represents the leadership of indigenous women – keeping alive our dreams of strengthening our own economies through the wisdom and knowledge of our people, connected with our Mother Earth.”��– Sara Omi, Co-Founder
Our Vision | Our Mission |
A future where Indigenous women lead thriving communities, fostering pride, prosperity and shared value through economic sovereignty. | To empower Indigenous women through access to markets, co-creation and community development, building progressive business models and strategies supported by ongoing implementation. |
Sara Omi Foundation
Empowering indigenous women �toward economic sovereignty.
Our Pillars | | |
Accelerator Lab | Cultural Storytelling | Community Infrastructure |
From artisan hands to global markets | Our documentation is teaching the process | We meet basic needs �and rights first |
We turn Indigenous identity, creativity and knowledge into sustainable income that women control. | Cultural storytelling as curriculum: a co-creation guide for working alongside Indigenous communities. | Essential systems such as potable water, Starlink, computers and solar panels that make participation possible. |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Title | Title |
Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 | Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Prelanzamiento de la Fundación Sara Omi
Progress by Pillar - Oct 2026 |
Accelerator �Lab | | Cultural �Storytelling | | Community �Infrastructure |
Pilot completed with �3 women in October 2026. | | Indigenous representation at CAF, IDB, WISS and OAS. | | Starlink internet �in Ipetí Emberá. |
Jumara Juwa accelerated through e-commerce and the Mystery Box. | | Humanitarian Award at the Glasswing Gala 2026. | | Computers for shared community use. |
Partnership with a leading Panamanian creative brand. | | First documentary �chapter produced. | | Clean water and solar �pilots underway. |
| | | | Toy drive for 140 children. |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Title | Title |
Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 | Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Prelanzamiento de la Fundación Sara Omi
How we are building the Foundation |
Our Way of Working: | | In Practice: |
We research and identify real problems by listening to the communities real needs on �the ground. | | We use AI, Lean Non-profit, technology, design and systems thinking. |
We co-create solutions with the community. | | We run Design-A-Thons as co-creation labs with the communities we work with. |
We apply MVPs (Minimal Viable Product) �in each phase. | | We build systems, processes and infrastructure based on the real needs and capacities on the ground. |
We Design → We Build → �We Test → We Launch | | We develop replicable frameworks for scale. |
We use methodologies and technological tools to accelerate execution and learning. | | We are strengthening Ipetí as a growth �lab and business accelerator. |
2027 Expected Impact |
27 Women�direct participants: 24 in two cohorts �plus 3 pilot graduates (2026) | 81 Family Members�indirect beneficiaries, counting �a spouse and two children per woman | 108 People�reached through the �Accelerator Lab in 2027 |
25 Households with solar panels installed �in a new partner community | 5 People/house benefiting from clean, consistent energy. | 125 People with clean energy at home. |
Pillar 1 - Accelerator Lab
Pillar 3 - Community Infrastructure
+233 People
reached across two pillars in 2027
Pillar 1 - Accelerator Lab | |
2027: From pilot to cohorts |
The Problem | Our Approach | Who Joins �in 2027 | 2027 Goals |
Skill without �a pathway | Identity → Possibility → Structure → Action | Two cohorts of �12 women | 27 women, 108 people reached |
Artisanal skill has no scalable path to income. Distribution is slow, with no digital or business foundation yet. | A personal brand becomes a course, a store and a business, accompanied from start to finish rather than handed over. | 24 new participants build on the lessons and updated curriculum of the 3-woman pilot completed in October 2026. | Stacked revenue from digital courses, e-commerce and speaking, so income grows beyond a single product. |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Title | Title |
Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 | Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Prelanzamiento de la Fundación Sara Omi
Pillar 2 - Cultural Storytelling | |
2027: Documentation as curriculum |
The Problem | Our Approach | Where It �Shows Up | 2027 Goals |
Identity treated �as a liability | Voice → Visibility → �Influence | Global stages �and media | Communities are able to document their knowledge |
Systems reward assimilation, and ancestral knowledge is at risk of being lost when it is not recorded or valued. | Community-led documentation of stories, rituals and artifacts, turned into a curriculum for co-creation. | Documentary chapters, speaking opportunities and international forums that put Indigenous women at the center. | 20 rituals and artifacts documented, more women on international stages and 15 youth mentored as future trainers. |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Title | Title |
Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 | Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Prelanzamiento de la Fundación Sara Omi
Pillar 3 - Community Infrastructure | |
2027: We meet basic needs first |
The Problem | Our Approach | Where We �Work in 2027 | 2027 Goals |
Basic needs come first | Barrier → Access → Opportunity | A new partner community | 25 households, �100–125 people |
Without clean water, energy and connectivity, women cannot fully take part in the economy. | Communities propose what they need, and we fund it in stages that are tied to results. | We expand to a second community, building on Starlink, computers and the clean water pilot in Ipetí Emberá. | Solar panels installed for 25 families, giving every household member reliable, clean energy. |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Title | Title |
Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 | Preparado por: Equipo Sara Omi Preparado para: Nuestra Comunidad 29.11.25 |
© 2026 Fundación Sara Omi
saraomi.org
Prelanzamiento de la Fundación Sara Omi
Raised to date�$157,500
Pledges in progress�$22,500
Spent to date�$113,519.36
The Numbers |
Every dollar is released in stages and tied to results.
We invite you to join our founding supporters, the seed investors in the future of Indigenous communities.
Our 2027 goal�USD $ 510K
Founding supporters:�USD $5,000 or more
Your Role as a Co-Creator |
Our Team |
Sara Omi, Co-founder�Eric Humbert, Co-founder�Kim Carter, Board Member, Fundraising�José Abraham Caballer, Executive Director�Kari Huske, Chief Strategy Officer� | Angela Florez Arenas, VP of Development María Isabel Martínez, Communications Director�Luis Guillermo Martínez, Foundation Coordinator�Aurelio “PAPE” Gallón, Brand Director�Felice Della Gatta, Design Director |
We have gathered a world-class team of execution-oriented experts. |
This project is deeply personal to our team. What began as an idea has grown into a movement shaped by the voices and needs of the communities we serve.
We invite you to join us in building a new model for foundations and nonprofits.
Thank you for your support.��– Eric Humbert, Co-founder
Contact Us |
We welcome your questions and collaboration ideas as we continue to bring this vision to life. Angela Florez�VP of Development�angela@saraomi.org Sofía�Assistant to the Board�sofia@saraomi.org |
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Oportunidad · Opportunity
Retorno · ROI
Familia
Las mujeres invierten más de su ingreso en su familia
Women invest more of their income in family
Salud, educación y nutrición
Health, education, nutrition
98,7%
De las mujeres pagan su microcrédito sin problemas
Of women borrowers repay without problems
Repago de microcréditos
Microloan repayment
US$1,1B
Más al PIB de Latinoamérica (+14%)
Added to Latin America's GDP (+14%)
Las economías crecen
Economies grow
El ROI de Invertir en Mujeres | | Cuando ganan, todos ganamos. |