Almost 50 years ago, Villa El Salvador rose from the sand. Not far from Lima's center, the streets of this district (now the fifth most populated one in the capital) resound with a historic tradition of fight, commitment, and women-led organization.

Ever since she arrived at the district, Betty Lévano started working with other women who, like her, were leading transformation. Hard work that led her to know the deepest parts of the district and get to see first hand the deep inequalities that women had to face. That women still have to face.

Nowadays, three out of every four women in Villa El Salvador have suffered from gender-based violence at any point in life, according to a report by the United Nations Development Programme, on the cost of not preventing violence in this district. This study evidenced the impact of violence on women, their children, and the community, and pointed out the economic and social cost of facing violence.

Despite facing many obstacles, Betty has managed to occupy many leadership positions in Villa El Salvador's community organization. She was part of the first women's federation in the history of the country (FEPOMUVES), and she was the founder and president of a soup kitchen in the district. She recently stepped down as the coordinator of the Concertation Collective for Gender Equality, a collective that gathers over 30 community organizations, who UNDP is working with through the Justa, Villa El Salvador for justice and equality initiative.

"We hold meetings, build proposals, and educate people about their rights." Explains Betty, who is also a founding member of the Justa women's network.

Taking that leadership experience and her commitment to the cause, she's been a part of the Mujeres Que no se Dejan (Women who don't give up) radio show. She's an active collaborator of the Instancia de Concertación Distrital, a district installed Collective to combat violence against women and members of the family group, as a part of the Local Joint Action Plan to attend victims of violence.

Betty knows there's a generational gap, even if she deeply desires that more young women would join the cause. She aims to inspire them through example. "I want to put a young woman in charge, have her lead so we can keep advancing and interesting others."

In this district where women have given their all to face the toughest moments, Betty is an example of this tradition, this fight, that is being passed down through generations.

"The spirit of women in Villa El Salvador is working for the good of the district because we want to," she says with the strength that characterizes her commitment to make her home a better, safer place, where everybody has the right to live with no fear.