Segunda Vida: Empoderando a Madres e Hijos para un Futuro Mejor

This study aimed to assess the impact of the “Second Life” initiative, an educational intervention carried out in Loja, Ecuador, designed to empower female sex workers and their children through comprehensive, rights-based training programs. The research employed an applied, descriptive, mixed-method approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design without a control group was implemented, complemented by participatory techniques. The target population consisted of 5 adult women engaged in sex work and 12 school-aged children, selected through purposive sampling. The findings revealed a marked improvement in the independent variable namely, the development of labor competencies among the mothers, particularly in technical training, entrepreneurial inclination, and perceived autonomy. Simultaneously, the dependent variable, reflected in the children's academic performance, showed significant progress in terms of motivation, comprehension, and reduced reliance on academic support. Overall, the results underscore the transformative potential of context-sensitive, holistic education models in disrupting cycles of intergenerational poverty and social exclusion, offering a replicable framework for inclusive policy development across Latin America.