RALEIGH, North Carolina — Historically, women have struggled to secure work opportunities outside the home. Although recent strides toward gender equality have expanded access to stable income sources, achieving complete job equality remains a distant goal. She Rises Up, a documentary by director Maureen Castle Tusty and executive producer James Tusty, highlights the transformative impact of women’s economic participation.
The documentary follows three female entrepreneurs in Peru, Senegal and Sri Lanka on their journeys to lift their communities out of poverty. Each woman has faced unique struggles while maintaining her local business, but their belief that women deserve the right to make their own money has helped them to keep growing their businesses. In addition to working to carve out a place for women entrepreneurs in their communities, each of the women highlighted in She Rises Up is working to reduce poverty in their communities.
Gladys Yupanqui: Building Financial Independence in Peru
Gladys Yupanqui started a mini-market in Lima, Peru and has steadily expanded her business. Witnessing her mother’s financial dependence on her father inspired Gladys to take control of her future. Determined never to rely on someone else for financial stability, she worked for several years to save enough money to purchase a plot of land and launch her mini-market. Even during her pregnancy, Gladys managed her business, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to self-reliance and her community.
Magatte Wade: Creating Opportunities in Senegal
Magatte Wade created a cosmetics manufacturing company in Meckhe, Senegal, after witnessing widespread poverty and migration caused by a lack of job opportunities. Women in Senegal, despite working hard in local markets to provide for their families, often face discrimination from employers. Recognizing this inequality, Magatte launched Skin is Skin, a company that not only produces cosmetics but also provides jobs for women in remote areas with limited economic opportunities. Her efforts contribute to reducing poverty by offering sustainable livelihoods to marginalized women.
Selyna Peiris: Empowering Women in Sri Lanka
Selyna Peiris represents the second generation of female entrepreneurs in her family, expanding the textile company her mother founded in Sri Lanka. When COVID-19 disrupted normal business operations, SELYN pivoted from producing luxury items to developing reusable menstrual pads. This shift not only addressed a critical need for menstrual hygiene but also reduced monthly costs for women. By combining innovation with social impact, Selyna’s work continues to promote economic empowerment and improve the lives of women in her community.
A Documentary That Centers Women’s Voices
In an interview with The Borgen Project, Maureen Castle Tusty and James Tusty emphasized that their focus in making this documentary was to highlight the women doing the work. “Something that I really love about the film is that it’s the women telling their own stories,” Maureen explained. “There aren’t talking head PhD experts and there’s a place for those, for sure, but that’s not what this film is.” The filmmakers wanted to make sure that the women in She Rises Up were able to tell their own stories, without narrators speaking for them.
Global Impact and Recognition
She Rises Up has been screened in numerous locations worldwide since its theatrical release in 2024. These screenings will continue until the documentary’s streaming release in mid-2026. The stories of these women inspire audiences worldwide by demonstrating that, regardless of background or circumstance, women can build successful businesses and transform their communities.
Looking Ahead
The women featured in She Rises Up exemplify how economic empowerment could uplift entire communities. Their work underscores the importance of creating enabling environments where women have access to capital, mentorship and business opportunities. While their successes are inspiring, expanding these opportunities requires continued investment, policy reforms and grassroots support to ensure that more women can potentially break free from poverty and contribute to sustainable development. As She Rises Up continues to amplify these stories, it serves as a powerful reminder that supporting women entrepreneurs is essential for building resilient communities.
– Lizzie Mazzola
Lizzie is based in Raleigh, NC, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr