BREAKING BARRIERS
Set amidst the stark realities of Bolivia’s impoverished barrios, Breaking Barriers is more than a memoir—it is a powerful testament to the resilience of women determined to rise above oppression.
Maggie Stringer offers an intimate, firsthand account of her time working with disenfranchised women in a deeply patriarchal society, where centuries-old cultural norms have sought to silence them. Yet, within these struggles, she discovered a defiant spirit – a community of women who, despite relentless adversity, refused to accept the limitations placed upon them.
As an outsider, Maggie arrived to be told that she was to help women. She interpreted this as enabling women, not imposing so-called solutions for them; so she set about listening, learning and walking alongside those who fight their own battles every day.
She learned that true empowerment comes from recognising the strength that already exists within people who have long been overlooked. It has nothing to do with either offering assistance or saving people. The women needed opportunities, recognition, and to be enabled to choose the right to shape their own futures.
Through raw and deeply moving stories of struggle, laughter, and small but significant victories, Breaking Barriers sheds light on the power of collective action, the importance of self-determination, and the necessity of challenging ingrained social injustices. Maggie’s reflections urge readers to confront their own perspectives on privilege, justice, and the roles we play—whether consciously or unconsciously—in upholding or dismantling the barriers that keep others from living freely.
This is not just a book about Bolivia – it is a universal story of resistance, transformation, and the boundless strength of women who dare to dream beyond their circumstances. Breaking Barriers is an invitation to step into the lives of those often unheard, to witness their struggles, and to celebrate their triumphs. It is a call to recognise that change is not only possible but essential – and it begins with listening to the voices that have been silenced for far too long.
‘an extraordinary journey filled with courage, compassion, and transformation.’
EMBRACING UNCERTAINTY:
THE STRENGTH IN NOT KNOWING
True change does not come with a roadmap – it begins in the unknown. Maggie’s journey in Bolivia was filled with questions she could not immediately answer, challenges she had never faced before, and a constant unlearning of assumptions. But as she immersed herself in the lives of these women, she discovered that not having all the answers is, in itself, an act of liberation. Uncertainty became a gateway to transformation, both for her and for the women she stood alongside.
THE POWER OF FREEDOM:
REDEFINING WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE
Freedom is not merely the absence of oppression; it is the ability to live authentically, to make choices without fear, and to break free from the narratives imposed by others. Breaking Barriers explores the radical act of self-determination, showing how women, once shackled by poverty and cultural expectations, reclaimed their lives. It is a journey that proves true empowerment does not come from external validation but from within—from the unshaken belief that every woman deserves to live on her own terms.
BEYOND THE MEMOIR
This is not just a book – it is an awakening. It is an invitation to reflect on the struggles that still exist today, to recognise the women who continue to fight for their place in the world, and to question the barriers we unconsciously uphold in our own lives. Breaking Barriers leaves readers with a powerful message: when women stand together, when they dare to embrace uncertainty, and when they claim their right to freedom, they become unstoppable.