Archive for category: Women’s Empowerment

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Empowered Young Women In Zimbabwe are Changing Their Futures

Empowered Young Women In ZimbabweThe Youth Edutainment Services (YES) Trust Zimbabwe is an NGO formed by a group of young people in a town named Plumtree in Zimbabwe. The group was established in 2008 to empower the nation’s youth using information. The organization was officially registered in 2013 and is changing the lives of empowered young women in Zimbabwe.

Empowering Women

Zimbabwe and many other developing nations struggle with gender equality on many fronts. Women’s involvement in politics is comparatively low, at just 35%, with an even lower statistic in local government at 16%. U.N. Women’s study shows that the reasons for the lack of participation in such roles include dangerous working conditions, unfair wages, sexual violence and lack of employment.

These issues need addressing if women are to improve their prospects. This is a mission that YES Trust has taken up, demonstrating how empowered young women in Zimbabwe can allow them to change their futures with the vision of a society of equality.

The YES Trust aims to provide youths in the country with information, giving them the education they need to freely determine their futures. Its objectives are to mobilize multimedia and edutainment strategies to give people an understanding of social protection, health, safe migration and gender-based violence. By recognizing the talents and potentials of young people, the YES Trust helps them to engage in their community and provides them with the faculties necessary to utilize their strengths in a productive way for themselves and their country.

The task is not an easy one; creating equal opportunities for all citizens, especially for women and girls, will take time. However, YES Trust believes it can make meaningful changes by 2026, according to its 2021 Brief Overview. The board of trustees and secretariat administrators govern the organization aiming to maximize its productivity and reach its goal.

Creating a Space for Young People

To reach its goal, YES Trust hosts several activities, including storytelling competitions, sporting tournaments, music competitions and school quizzes, according to the 2021 Brief Overview. These all aim to create a space for young people to enter into a larger dialogue concerning crucial issues, especially surrounding gender equality. By emphasizing the importance of access to information and the education of young people, there comes increased accountability and inclusivity that could help improve the poor statistics of women in leading roles. Empowered young women in Zimbabwe are taking action, actively seeking the transformation they wish to happen.

The Youth Edutainment Services Trust partners with several like-minded organizations that share the same goals. One of these partners is U.N. Women, whose ambitions align with those of the YES Trust, according to the 2021 Brief Overview. Together, they strive to end violence against women and girls while endeavoring to inspire women’s political participation in leadership roles.

Alongside this, the HER Voice Fund also works with YES Trust and shares similar aspirations of empowerment, with a focus on advocacy. By positioning themselves with such homogenous organizations, they further define and strengthen their mission statement, pointing towards a larger-scale movement that seeks the same end as YES Trust.

YES Trust, coupled with the organizations that have also identified the same problems, reflects how empowered young women in Zimbabwe are taking a practical approach rather than suffering as a result of deeply ingrained inequality

– Molly Ralph

Molly is based in Dorset, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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South African Women: The Young Women for Life Movement

South African WomenThe socioeconomic system set in place during South Africa’s apartheid era continues to pervade the country today. HIV’s disproportionate impacts Black South Africans, particularly women, is but one example. South African girls and women are disproportionately impacted by HIV due in part to gender- and race-based inequality. South Africa’s 2023 strategic plan for HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reports that nearly two-thirds of all new HIV infections occur in women.

According to the International Journal for Equity in Health, the low socioeconomic status of women, especially Black women, in the country places them at greater risk of contracting HIV. Poverty — which in South Africa is the result of historical inequalities — is a “significant factor” in the way HIV/AIDS spreads — the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS are experiencing poverty. In response, the Young Women for Life Movement works with girls and women who are affected by poverty, marginalization, gender-based violence and HIV/AIDs, helping them to “break free of the cycle of poverty and violence.”

Cape Town’s Young Women for Life Movement

The Young Women for Life Movement was founded in 2019 when 80 adolescent girls and young women came together in a backyard in Cape Town. The program receives support from the United Nations (U.N.) Women, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Southern Africa Catholics Bishops Conference and Peace Commission. With their support, the program has grown and, as of June 2024, has impacted 8,000 women and girls in South Africa.

Women can grow within the program as it provides financial literacy training, skills-building training in business and entrepreneurship, leadership dialogues and peer support through a network of women and girls who face similar circumstances. The Young Women for Life Movement “models a unique approach to building resilience against gender-based violence and HIV among young women,” stated U.N. Women HIV/AIDS Specialist Jacqueline Utamuriza-Nsizabira. The movement also helps women influence policy through advocacy. It has grown into a “powerful network for influencing policies,” Utamuriza-Nsizabira said.

Overcoming Stigma

According to a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine, stigma and discriminatory attitudes against individuals with HIV are “persistent” throughout communities in South Africa, both urban and rural. HIV stigma in South Africa is correlated with HIV-affected individuals undergoing less medical treatment in terms of voluntary HIV antibody testing, palliative care and counseling — subsequently increasing HIV transmission. According to AVAC, HIV stigma is “deleterious to health-care use and delivery behaviors in South Africa.”

AVAC also stated that Black women living with HIV in South Africa experience significant trauma, with their positive HIV status adding further stress to their lives. Extreme cases of HIV stigma can manifest as violent behavior. The Madridge Journal of AIDS reports that stigma affects South African adolescent girls and women “socially, economically and mentally,” undermining their chances of seeking health care and improving their quality of life.

The Young Women for Life Movement helps girls and women “break through” this stigma and fear of discrimination, providing a sense of community where women and girls feel safe to disclose their HIV status and are encouraged to seek proper care. Program coordinator Phindile Maseko informed U.N. Women that some young women and girls in the Cape Town movement are living with HIV. “They were so discouraged when we met them that they had even stopped taking antiretroviral medication,” she said. But now, they have hope and are fighting for a better future.”

Overcoming the Cycle of Poverty

Maseko met Gugulethu Mdoba, who had gotten pregnant when she was 18 and struggled to raise her child, encouraging her to join the program. When Mdoba joined the Young Women for Life Movement, she sold baked goods to raise money to support her child. After gaining support and learning business skills through the program, she now has a bakery and recently began to teach other girls and young women how to bake.

“My business has grown a lot,” said Mdoba. “I have many customers now. I deliver my products to salons and shops. Sometimes I just walk a short distance and my muffins are sold out because people pre-order them and I deliver them the next day.” By providing girls and women with financial literacy, the initiative empowers them to access better health care and support services, which can improve their health outcomes and overall well-being. With increased economic stability, they are better equipped to confront and challenge stigma, reducing their social isolation and improving their ability to live openly and confidently.

Closing Thought

By empowering South African girls and women living with HIV/AIDS to break through stigma and the cycle of poverty, the Young Women for Life Movement promotes resilience, promotes better health outcomes and enhances their overall quality of life.

– Ahna Fleming

Ahna is based in Minneapolis, MN, USA and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Supporting Rural African Women Entrepreneurs

Women’s Business Centres: Supporting Rural African Women EntrepreneursIn rural Africa, the poverty rate stands at 17.2%, more than triple the urban rate of 5.3%, according to the United Nations (U.N.). More than half of Africa’s women reside in rural areas and “significantly contribute to Africa’s agriculture and rural enterprises, fueling local and global economies,” as reported by the U.N. Rural African women encounter more challenges than men in agriculture, including issues related to resource control, access to financing and ownership of livestock and land. Self Help Africa’s (SHA) Rural Women Empowerment (RWE) project is actively working to address these challenges by establishing Women’s Business Centres, thereby investing in efforts to alleviate poverty in rural Africa.

The Return on Investing in African Women

According to the U.N., research indicates that when women work globally, they typically reinvest up to 90% of their earnings into their families’ and communities’ health, nutrition and education, compared to men who reinvest up to 40% of theirs. More than half of Africa’s women reside in rural areas, where they play a “key role” in enhancing the livelihoods of their households and communities, the U.N. notes. Thus, investing in gender equality and expanding opportunities for rural African women directly contributes to the development and alleviation of poverty in rural Africa.

Launch of SHA’s Rural Women Empowerment Project

SHA, an international development organization based in Dublin, Ireland, launched its RWE project in early 2023. This five-year strategy aims to alleviate poverty, social inequality and hunger through community-led, market-based and enterprise-focused approaches, according to its website. The RWE project represents the second phase of an initial effort titled “Scaling Rural Women Entrepreneurs for Community-Led Digital Adaptation and Resilience in Africa,” which concluded in December 2023. The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) funds the project.

Expansion and Impact of Women’s Business Centers

The project now focuses on empowering rural African women entrepreneurs by providing support in financial literacy, digital learning, product market development and more. It works closely with women entrepreneurs to connect them with new opportunities in fields like agriculture and nutrition while integrating their existing business practices. By establishing Women’s Business Centres (WBC), the RWE initiative helps women enhance their innovation skills and build economic independence and digital capabilities.

The WBCs provide startup support and train rural African women on digital business strategies and social media marketing. They also provide networking communities for women entrepreneurs and those planning to launch new businesses. The centers serve as both business incubators and vibrant communities where women business owners can connect and learn about nutrition, health care, finances, savings and more. The WBCs are “transforming lives, not just for the women involved, but for their families and communities at large,” states SHA’s website.

Successful Outcomes Across Kenya, Nigeria and Malawi

Since June 2023, the RWE project has supported almost 2,000 rural African women entrepreneurs in Kenya, Nigeria and Malawi and has established 90 WBCs in the three countries. In Kenya and Malawi, the RWE and WBCs share the same goals. Through the project, 13,600 women in Malawi and 4,000 women in Kenya have accessed information, services and resources related to nutrition and digital literacy.

At WBCs in Nigeria, women are trained to produce and market “Tom Brown” — a traditional Nigerian food supplement made from locally sourced produce such as soya beans, corn, groundnuts and millet. The supplement has a high nutritional content — it supports weight gain, prevents malnutrition and is particularly beneficial for babies, children and breastfeeding women. It is commonly eaten as porridge for breakfast. More than 400 Nigerian women have been trained to prepare Tom Brown with locally produced ingredients across 20 WBCs in Nigeria.

“Due to the training I received here, I know how to talk to the customers and draw their attention to the goods that I have. It can boost your energy and appetite for food, especially for people in hospital, it’s very good for them,” Bridget Beekombo, a producer, seller and consumer of Tom Brown, told SHA. By establishing WBCs in rural Africa, SHA’s RWE project is empowering women to shine as innovative leaders and entrepreneurs. The project is, in turn, investing in the poverty alleviation and economic and social development of Africa’s rural areas, placing rural African women at the helm.

Looking Ahead

Self Help Africa’s Rural Women Empowerment project actively supports rural African women by providing essential resources and training through Women’s Business Centres. These centers equip women with financial literacy, digital skills and market development strategies, fostering economic independence and innovation.

– Ahna Fleming

Ahna is based in Minneapolis, MN, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Women’s Rights in Nauru

Women's Rights in NauruGender inequality/equality is not solely a women’s or girls’ issue.  It is an issue that affects everyone, including the economy and the community. Actions of gender-based discrimination obstruct women’s rights and the freedom to exercise their inherent human rights. Expectations based on a woman’s sex have become confused within tradition, cultural norms and present-day needs.

The U.N. Women published 14 Country Gender Equality Briefs. Nauru’s report educated both males and females by identifying examples of gender-based discrimination and their effects. Each report goes along with “the SDG gender indicators and targets.”

Aspiring Leaders

The Honorable Charmaine Eraidinomo made history by being the second woman to be elected as a member of parliament and has been serving in parliament since 2013. Isabella Dageago is serving her second term in parliament as the Minister of Health and Home Affairs. They occupy two of the 19 seats of the Nauruan Parliament.

The cultural and traditional norms of Nauru have affected gender equality. Having been a matrilineal society throughout history, today male-dominated family groups are replacing lands where women were the custodians of their family lands.

According to the 2017 Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, Nauruan officials need to ensure the effective and meaningful participation of women when making decisions about land use. These actions would include public consultations that would confirm the meaningful participation of women.

Poverty, Employment and Education

Nauru has the “worst poverty index of all Pacific nations,” according to ADB. One in every four people is living below the basic needs poverty line. Also, Nauruans have a limited capacity for food production and depend on foreign aid and the import of goods. Of the 35% of the Nauruan households headed by women 17.7% were categorized to be extremely vulnerable.

Women have faced discrimination in the areas of employment and wages because the government has failed to enforce labour laws and regulations. In addition, “societal pressures, lower wages and Nauru’s general situation of poverty have limited employment opportunities for women.”

Economy, culture and social norms affect education in Nauru. School attendance is mandatory (ages 6 to 15), but only 31% of students complete the fifth year. The high rate of teenage pregnancies (ages 15 to 19) has an impact on the drop-out rate of girls enrolled in secondary education, according to the U.N. Women Brief.

Domestic Violence

“Domestic violence and sexual offences constitute a significant portion of reported crimes in Nauru,” the UNDP reports. “Since 2021, we have received 79 cases, with 53 completed and 23 closed due to insufficient evidence. It is crucial to recognize that these numbers do not necessarily reflect a low prevalence of family and sexual violence. As we all know, victims of such violence often do not come forward due to fear, stigma and various other barriers,” said Deputy Commissioner Simpson Deidanang during his opening remarks.

Advocates for Women’s Rights

An extensive number of organizations advocate gender equality for women’s rights in Nauru. Each of the following organizations supports Nauruan women from a different perspective.

  • The WENA focuses on “promoting women’s empowerment and advocating for gender equality,” according to UNDP.
  • The U.N. Women “is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential.”
  • The Pacific Islands Forum aims “to achieve our Vision for a resilient Pacific Region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures that all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy, and productive lives.”

Reflecting on Women’s Rights in Nauru

In April 2024, the Micronesian Ministers for Women Conference in Nauru addressed the progress of gender equality and women’s rights in Nauru. Rakuita clearly expresses how gender equality affects women’s rights and the need for the voices of Pacific women to be heard.

The principal speaker for Pacific women and girls, Mereseini Rakuita stated, “We have been treating gender equality as a women’s issue only far too long. Gender equality is about national development, human rights, sustainable economies and peaceful societies. It’s about recognizing that half of our Pacific population are women and girls and as such, their voices, interests, concerns, aspirations and leadership are needed, if we are to unleash our full potential as a region.”

– Pam Fenton

Pam is based in Wall Township, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project

Photo: Flickr

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Empowering Girls, One Uniform at a Time: Impact of SHE in Togo

SHE in TogoAround 129 million girls worldwide are not enrolled in school. In Togo, girls spend an average of 2-3 years in school and only 33% attend junior high school. Tuition fees, school supplies and mandated school uniforms are the largest financial barriers preventing impoverished families from sending their girls to receive an education. Studies have shown that providing free uniforms can reduce dropout rates by 16% and absences by more than 35%. In response, the nonprofit organization Style Her Empowered (SHE) has committed to offering free uniforms to support students’ educational outcomes.

How SHE Began With Just a Uniform

Payton Mc Griff, the founder of SHE, was a sophomore at the University of Idaho, United States (U.S.). After reading the novel “Half the Sky,” McGriff learned the shocking truth of the daily oppression women in developing countries face. Hence, she resolved to join the effort to empower young women and break the cycle. In 2017, as part of a class project for her marketing major, she went to Nôtse, Togo, to do field research. Togo was the perfect launchpad for SHE because, though it ranks low on the Human Development Index, the government had reduced tuition rates for girls to incentivize education. Also, most entrepreneurs there are women eager to welcome new programs for girls’ education – Togo had both the need and potential for change.

While there, she saw the reality for many girls, including Elolo, whose family’s financial struggles forced her to quit school so that her brothers could continue. Every girl she interviewed agreed that a required uniform was the greatest obstacle preventing them from attending school. That was where her idea for a uniform that grows was born. With $35,000 in seed money and the help of local sewists and students, the uniform that grows was made a possibility. The dress is designed to fit a girl for up to three years, adjusting six sizes, with adjustable cords along the side and a foot of extra fabric hemmed underneath.

SHE’s Mission and Vision

Today, SHE operates in 20 rural villages in Southern Togo, including Nôtse. In these areas, girls are more likely to drop out of school, with 69% of households living below the poverty line. SHE strives to remove as many financial barriers for young girls as possible to create a world where every girl and woman can survive and flourish. The nongovernmental organization (NGO) focuses on three main areas:

Girls’ Education

SHE’s Holistic Girls’ Education Program provides every student with:

  • SHE uniform that grows
  • Full-tuition scholarship
  • A year’s worth of school supplies
  • Year-round tutoring from SHE’s local team
  • Reusable menstrual health kit
  • Durable, waterproof backpack

The program serves 1,500 girls annually from kindergarten to high school and has helped 6,095 girls since 2017. In 2023, SHE’s students achieved the highest success rates in the NGO’s history, with a 99.1% student pass rate, 40% higher than the national average in 2022.

Women’s Employment

Togo has one of the highest rates of gender inequality in the world and only 20% of Togolese women have completed primary school, leaving 1.6 million women without an education. Seamstress training is one of the most popular careers for women in Togo. However, there are no opportunities for support or growth and laborers are often exploited.

SHE’s Paid-To-Learn Employment Model creates dignified jobs for women employed in Togo. SHE guarantees its 33 Togolese women employees:

  • Salaries 75% above Togo’s minimum wage
  • 10% of the work week devoted to adult learning programs
  • Unlimited paid sick leave, social security benefits, national health care and retirement enrollment
  • Three months of fully paid maternity leave
  • Free child care
  • No more than 40 hour work weeks

Sustainability

Alongside the growing uniform, SHE has developed more sustainable products that help girls, women and the planet. These include:

  1. Reusable Menstrual Pads: Period poverty prevents millions of girls from attending school. Only 35% of girls in Togo continue beyond elementary education, most dropping out when they reach puberty. Hence, 100% of fabric scraps from SHE factories are recycled into reusable menstrual pads crafted by SHE sewists for students who were previously forced to miss school during their period due to a lack of sanitary supplies. In 2021, SHE produced more than 5,000 reusable menstrual pads.
  2. Recycled Plastic Backpacks: SHE’s latest development in 2022 includes the collection of single-use plastic bags fused to make durable, waterproof backpacks for girls, provided through its education program.

Final Remark

SHE demonstrates how effective grassroots organizations are at improving people’s lives in developing countries. The female-founded and female-led charity is an inspiring testament to women coming together to uplift and empower one another.

– Fatima Naqavi

Fatima is from London, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: PickPik

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Female Empowerment through Fish Farming in Uganda

Fish Farming in UgandaFish farming has remarkably paved the way for female empowerment within Uganda. Supported by the United Nations (U.N.) Women, the women in the Bugiri District of Uganda are using fish farming to break down gender barriers that prevent them from escaping poverty.

The Situation for Women in Uganda

Uganda is located in Sub-Saharan Africa and has a population of 44.3 million, of which 41% live in poverty, living on less than $1.90 per day. As a developing country, women in Uganda face daily struggles. Approximately 85% of women work in the informal sector, which most often has poor working conditions, unpredictable earnings and job insecurity. Selling and trading at markets is a vital source of income for many women.

However, these women have no rights at work. Women typically struggle to platform their needs and concerns, suffering from frequent rights violations. Additionally, men dominate markets and thus, women are consequently excluded from leadership positions. In the long term, this has led to consequential restrictions on women’s economic participation across Uganda.

Fish Farming

Revolutionarily, women in Bugiri District in Eastern Uganda have broken into the male-dominated fish farming industry. Traditionally, fish farming was reserved for men, meaning women had to find other income sources. However, the women of Uganda have not only mastered the art of fishing but have simultaneously broken down the patriarchal taboo that prevents women from earning a decent livelihood.

Uganda’s Female Fish Farming Program

U.N. Women launched the Women Economic Empowerment Program to support Ugandan women defying gender stereotypes in fish farming. Initiated in 2019, the fish farming program aims to promote greater income security and decent work for Ugandan women, empowering them with economic autonomy by 2050.

U.N. Women and the Bugiri District Local Government specifically support rural women in fish farming activities in Lake Victoria. Before the program, many women with small businesses selling fish struggled. The fish farming program has trained 1,400 women in the district. As a result, there are 28 cages full of Tilapia fish, standing as a testament to the strength and empowerment of Ugandan women.

Female Empowerment through Fish Farming

The fish farming project has largely contributed to Uganda’s gross domestic product (GDP). The women have generated approximately $1.15 million in sales, producing 508.5 tons of fish. Additionally, U.N. Women have provided essential supportive services in the region, such as day care services for children, supplying necessary resources and housing fisherwomen in accommodation.

On an individual level, women across the Bugiri District have significantly benefited from the fish farming project. A resident and fisherwoman in Bugiri, Rose Nakimuli, commended the project, celebrating that she has developed aquaculture skills and learned how to swim and fish. Additionally, female empowerment through the fish farming program has several economic benefits. Women learned essential business management skills, learning how to run a business from start to finish successfully.

The project also strengthened women’s involvement in government and the whole fish value chain. Subsequently, the women established this project as a private company named “Women Economic Empowerment Bugiri” (WEEB). The CEO of WEEB, Ms. Immaculate Were, stated that women are now “specialized in feeding, harvesting, preservation, marketing and trading.” In turn, gender equality across Uganda has improved within homes, as women can earn a decent income to contribute to the family. Furthermore, the fish farming project has reduced gender-based violence because women are empowered within themselves, both socially and financially, instead of relying upon men. One fisherwoman added that “men now view them as heroes.”

Looking Ahead

Overall, female empowerment through fish farming across Uganda has been significant. The continued U.N. support for female empowerment is a hopeful solution to eradicating poverty across Uganda and combating gender inequality. “Once a woman gets wealthy, that’s wealth for the whole nation,” stated Were.

– Sian Ameer-Beg

Sian is based in Durham, UK and focuses on Business and Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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5 Charities Operating in Tibet

Charities Operating in Tibet
A region well known for Mount Everest and the Dalai Lama, the autonomous region of Tibet once had a poverty rate as high as 80%. Through various campaigns, it has significantly improved in recent years, but there is still a large amount of work that needs to be done. This journey is made possible by the following five charities operating in Tibet.

The Tibet Fund

Founded in 1981 under the patronage of the Dalai Lama, The Tibet Fund aims to preserve Tibet’s cultural identity, supporting communities’ education, health and livelihood. Its programs promote self-reliance among the Tibetan community and allow even the most vulnerable to have the chance to lead healthy, dignified lives.

Gender-based Violence

The organization also has specific initiatives for Tibetan women and girls. For example, it established an initiative that offers protection against gender-based violence, collaborating with partners such as the Central Tibetan Administration Women’s Empowerment Desk, Tibetan Women’s Association, and Drokmo. Workshops occurred on menstrual and reproductive health for youth as well as awareness sessions for other Tibetan organizations.

This also involved the establishment of gender focal persons, barefoot counselors and complaint committees in order to raise awareness on gender-based sexual violence (GBSV) and harassment; it also included the operation of a 24-hour helpline that acted as a safe space for survivors.

Another gender-based initiative is Every Mother and Child, which provides resources to breastfeeding mothers to support the nutrition, hygiene and healthy cognitive development of their child.

Education

The Tibet Fund has done a large amount of work regarding higher education. Through its various scholarship programs, it has allowed countless economically vulnerable Tibetans to be able to access post-secondary education, both domestically and in the U.S.

The Fund supported more than 50 Tibetan girls who were unable to afford the high costs of higher education, both at technical schools in the country and at universities in China. Additionally, it provided scholarships to two pursuing careers in medicine in Xining.

Furthermore, with funding from the U.S. Department of State and partnerships between Qinghai Tibetan Medical College and three American universities, the Fund was able to provide English language training courses for 20 students, with four top-performing students going on to continue their studies at various American academic institutes.

Its dedication to education and the future of Tibet was further exemplified through its Tibetan Women Microentrepreneurship Program, which assisted vulnerable women in growing their businesses and expanding their markets.

Earthquakes

It has also donated generously toward victims of earthquakes, including the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck in early 2010 that claimed the lives of nearly 2,700 people and injured more than 12,000. The Fund provided a total of $122,875 in grants for short-and long-term emergency and recovery efforts, assisting Tibetans in the reconstruction of a flour mill and school.

Machik

The second of these charities operating in Tibet is Machik, which translates to “one mother” in Tibetan. This organization works with Tibetans both in and outside the region, addressing social and environmental changes with a focus on social innovation, civic engagement and gender equity.

Its recent achievements include the provision of clean energy and safe drinking water; the establishment of an award winning school, a library and an organic greenhouse; the repair of roads and houses and much more.

In 2001, Machik established the Pende Clinic Project, which provides health care to a rural community and its surrounding villages; in total, the clinic supports 31 villages with approximately 2,000 households, a population of about 16,000.

Moreover, it has established education programs for women charting new pathways. Mother’s Wish, a program it initiated, now supports education for girls and women in Amdo, ranging from middle school-level education to PhDs.

One of these is its Women’s Writing Program. Machik has sponsored both the development and distribution of The Land of Snow Tibetan Women’s Journal, a quarterly magazine edited and produced by Tibetan women that offers a platform for Tibetan women writers to discuss countless compelling social issues. Since its conception in December 2004, it has produced 12 issues.

Karuna-Shechen

A nonprofit organization that reflects and emphasizes the ideals of altruism, Karuna-Shechen has promoted well-being in the Himalayan region, with their work spanning Tibet, India and Nepal.

The organization has provided shelter, safety, education, health care and opportunities to vulnerable communities, encompassing fields such as health and hygiene, education, food security, economic development and the environment. In 2023, it supported more than 494,130 people, including 555,000 indirect beneficiaries and 22,000 animals.

Karuna-Shechen has also been significantly involved in promoting food security. For instance, it has provided equipment to improve water management in agriculture, which has been vastly beneficial for farmers such as Indra Kumari Rai.

This improved not only crop production rate but also its quality, allowing for sustainable agriculture and creating a lasting positive impact for both nutrition and economy.

Finally, its unique Altruism in Action model allows for a more explicit and active partnership between Karuna-Shechen and the communities it serves. It can be boiled down to the creation and use of Better Future Councils (BFCs), elected representatives from each “cluster” of villages that work directly with Karuna-Shechen. The BFCs then play a central role in the:

  • Co-identification of needs, issues, and available resources
  • Co-design of projects
  • Co-implementation of activities
  • Co-monitoring and evaluation of the intervention and its impact

The American Himalayan Foundation (AHF)

Like Karuna-Shechen, another of these charities operating in Tibet, the American Himalayan Foundation (AHF) assists those living throughout the Himalayas, including Tibetans, Sherpas and Nepalis. Its projects have included trafficking prevention for women and girls, education, health care, cultural revival and environmental conservation.

The Foundation’s work spans multiple countries–in Nepal, it has been involved in disaster relief during events such as the Nepal earthquake, and have initiatives in the kingdom of Mustang and other areas that contribute to the preservation of culture. Additionally, it has an initiative titled STOP Girl Trafficking that aims to prevent girls from Nepal from being trafficked, or entering indentured servitude or child marriage. The program has grown significantly, supporting education that not only keeps girls safe but empowers them with the skills and confidence required for them to shape their own futures.

The Terma Foundation

The last of these charities operating in Tibet is The Terma Foundation, an international humanitarian medical organization that aims to provide innovative and sustainable health solutions, mainly for indigenous, marginalized and other excluded populations. Its work in Tibet, Mexico, Myanmar and Brazil has positively impacted and reached more than 1.5 million beneficiaries to date.

Malnutrition

Through the implementation of its various culturally-sensitive programs that work with local partners, The Terma Foundation has provided medical education, participated in research combining both traditional Tibetan and western knowledge and practices and provided diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation to Tibetans.

Its child feeding and indigenous food development program supports the supply and consumption of highly nutritious indigenous natural foods, which began after reports of malnutrition in children and their mothers due to insufficient protein and micronutrient intake.

Although the variety of processed food has grown exponentially, elders have stated that children have been shown to be stronger and healthier when eating locally cultivated food, which was previously a regular part of daily diets.

One such food is droma, a locally abundant, traditional root that is high in iron and vegetable protein, and combines to form a complete protein when mixed with barley.

The organization distributes droma in combination with multivitamin supplements, a well-received, low-cost practice that has led to visible, rapid improvement in children’s clinical status and growth. The harvesting process of these food sources is also being studied for its potential as a source of revenue for farmers, traditional doctors and herbalists.

Tibetan Medicine

On the topic of malnutrition, Terma has also emphasized the importance of traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) principles and practices as a form of advancement for cultural health care. Its health promotion team and TTM physicians work hand-in-hand, increasing credibility, trust and efficiency. The practices are adapted into schools and villages, offering a sense of comfort through the provision of clinical care that is culturally familiar to patients.

Terma’s other programs include health education and primary care delivery, tuberculosis prevention and control, pre- and postnatal care and rickets education and prevention.

Looking Ahead

Through these charities operating in Tibet, transformative work is being done in Tibet every day. Each act that these organizations implement have an impact. 

– Rune Pang

Rune is based in Markham, ON, Canada and focuses on World News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Empowering Women in West Africa

Women in West AfricaFrom Benin, Dossi Sekonnou Gloria remarks that “in West Africa, civil society organizations (CSOs) are viewed with a negative eye.” Discriminatory behavior and practices persist in Benin and regions across Africa. Women’s participation and representation in political processes are continuously undermined. The common perception of women as the “weaker race” poses challenges to women’s rights activists. However, that has not stopped Gloria’s desire to address social inequalities and empower women in West Africa.

The Women Leaders Network for Development

In 2012, Gloria founded the Women Leaders Network for Development or Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement (RFLD). RFLD is a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable development and, more specifically, gender equality and women’s rights. The organization is based in West Africa and has its headquarters in Benin. RFLD is active in 27 countries and works with more than 60 women-led organizations, tackling both “structural and individual barriers to gender equality” and “social inclusion.”

Focus and Expertise

RFLD seeks to empower women in the context of regional initiatives that focus on issues surrounding:

  1. Economic Justice: This involves promoting sustainable livelihoods and financial independence among women.
  2. Ending Harmful Practices: This involves combatting gender-based violence, genital mutilation and other detrimental customs.
  3. Climate Justice: This involves teaching women how to adapt to climate change and develop sustainable practices.
  4. Human Rights: This involves protecting all human rights and providing access to sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice.
  5. Peace and Security: This involves promoting women’s participation in peacebuilding.
  6. Media Development and Freedom: This involves promoting media literacy to identify and combat harmful narratives.
  7. Integration of Gender and Social Inclusion: This involves including women in decision-making processes and providing equal access to services and resources.

Strategic Plan 2023-2028

In March 2024, RFLD announced that it was raising $10 million to fund its 2023–2028 Strategic Plan. The vision for change lies within the plan’s objectives, promoting:

  • Women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and representation in decision-making bodies. 
  • Civil liberties and democratic values with a focus on human rights through our activities. 
  • Economic justice for women.
  • The principle of participatory governance, the innovative capacity of civil society and the development of the media.

The plan emphasizes the importance of women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Experienced women are best suited to address unique gender-based challenges, offer fresh perspectives and lead efforts in various human rights struggles, making their involvement essential for lasting change. WHRDs not only safeguard basic rights and freedoms but actively work to expand their influence and effectiveness. RFLD has recognized the vital role of these stakeholders and now strives to empower them with its strategic plan.

Country-Level Impact

Notable areas of impact are the issues covered at a country level. Across 27 countries, RFLD conducts awareness campaigns and education workshops, provides training and resources and supports a range of women, from entrepreneurs to small farmers. It also raises civil society activists, lawyers and judges on women’s rights.

From supporting women in the fishing industry in Mauritania and promoting gender equality in cocoa farming in Ghana to combating food insecurity and early marriage in Chad, RFLD’s work follows its various issues of focus. In Mauritius, the organization promotes women’s entrepreneurship in the technology sector. In the Central African Republic, RFLD promotes peacebuilding through interfaith dialogue. Its impact across sub-Saharan Africa is variable and ongoing and this hard work has allowed the RFLD’s progress to spread.

RFLD’s Delegation

The nonprofit’s influence is now reaching the African Union. The RFLD is funding a 13-person delegation to attend the 6th Gender Is My Agenda Campaign Network (GIMAC) Strategic Engagement in Accra, Ghana. The GIMAC Network aims to promote the rights and leadership of women in West Africa and monitor the implementation of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.

These events will go from 12 to 15 July 2024. The theme of the 6th GIMAC Strategic Engagement is “Educational Transformation for Gender Equity and Sustainability.” With a delegation composed of young women leaders, government officials and CSOs, women’s voices are amplified and contributions are made toward the future of girls’ education in Africa. The delegates also will benefit from the opportunity to network with influential leaders, represent their constituencies and contribute to discussions.

RFLD’s strategic plan, country-level impact and delegation are significant strides in women’s empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa. The organization symbolizes hope for a future where women in West Africa can flourish and fully exercise their rights.

– Caroline Albright

Caroline is based in Milton, MA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Strides for Gender Equality in Sierra Leone

Strides for Gender Equality in Sierra LeoneSierra Leone, located along the West African Atlantic coast, boasts fertile landscapes that support prosperous agricultural systems. Despite this, the nation has grappled with severe women’s rights issues. A significant change occurred in January 2023 when President Julius Maada Bio enacted the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (GEWE). This law marks a transformative moment for women in the country, heralding a new era of enhanced equality and rights.

Historic Legislation for Gender Equality

The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (GEWE) mandates that public and private sector employers allocate 30% of job openings to women, including leadership roles. It also requires political parties to ensure that 30% of their candidates for parliamentary and local elections are women. Additionally, the act provides for 14-week maternity leave, mandates equal pay for equal work and grants women equal access to financial support and training. Noncompliance with GEWE carries significant penalties. This legislation represents a significant advancement toward gender equality in Sierra Leone, where women make up 52% of the population but hold fewer than 20% of elected positions. The implementation of GEWE aims to correct this imbalance, empowering more women to assume leadership roles.

Educational Challenges for Women

In Sierra Leone, literacy among women remains a significant issue, with educational opportunities limited from an early age. Among girls aged 15 to 24, 41% have not finished primary education and girls are more likely to drop out of secondary school than boys. A major factor contributing to this educational gap is the high rate of early marriage; nearly 30% of girls marry before the age of 18, severely curtailing their educational pursuits. Consequently, only 2% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are both married and attending school, leading to a female illiteracy rate of 57.65%.

Legislative Advances in Education

In April 2023, Sierra Leone’s parliament enacted the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act, significantly advancing educational access for married women and young mothers. Previously, until 2020, the government prohibited pregnant women and mothers from attending school. This new legislation guarantees their right to continue education, a vital step toward keeping young women and their families out of poverty by ensuring they can pursue schooling regardless of marital or parental status.

Sierra Leone’s Commitment to Educational Reform

The enactment of Sierra Leone’s Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act marks significant progress in educational equality for women. Starting in 2018, the government prioritized education, implementing several key legislations such as the Free Quality Education Programme and laws supporting the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Rights and Welfare of the Child. These ongoing measures have made education more accessible by reducing financial barriers and guaranteeing free, compulsory education for all children. Recently, the focus has expanded to include specific protections for women’s education, a major advancement for women’s rights in Sierra Leone.

Hope for the Future

The Gender Equality and Empowerment Act, along with the Basic and Senior Secondary Education Act, signify a pivotal shift in women’s rights in Sierra Leone. Before the enactment of these laws, no legislation explicitly protected the educational, political and civil rights of women in the country. These legislative measures, aiming to secure women’s job security and educational opportunities, offer a hopeful outlook for the future of women in the country, providing them with new opportunities to succeed.

– Ellie Buss

Ellie is based in Vancouver, WA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Organizations Supporting Education for Girls

Supporting Education for GirlsEducation is a valuable tool that can help a child achieve future success. However, in some developing nations, it is a scarce resource, particularly for girls. In Pakistan, for example, 56.4% of girls were not in education, employment or training of any kind in 2021. A lack of education for girls is also a significant issue in Guatemala, where 44.3% of girls were not in education, training or employment in 2022. While these figures demonstrate that a lack of education for girls in developing nations is a significant issue, organizations are working tirelessly to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to learn, regardless of their gender or nationality. Here are five organizations supporting education for girls.

Stand By Me

Stand by Me is a charity based in the United Kingdom (U.K.).  The organization focuses on saving and caring for vulnerable children. Its “Stand by a Girl” program has made a difference in the fight for education for girls across the world, supporting a total of 3,800 children. The charity collects sponsorship money from members of the public, which is used to pay for books, teachers and other necessities that enable girls to flourish.

The charity remains involved in the lives of the children for an extended period, making sure that their needs continue to be fulfilled as they grow instead of only providing one-off assistance.

Campaign for Female Education

Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) is another organization supporting education for girls. Based in Africa, it works in government-owned primary and secondary schools across developing nations like Zambia, Malawi, Ghana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. CAMFED partners with communities across the continent to prevent any barriers to education girls may face. These barriers can include limited access to menstrual products and lack of money for school uniforms and other supplies.

The organization uses donations to pay for these items. Additionally, they provide girls with bikes and boarding to make it easier for them to travel to school or even remove the need to travel entirely. CAMFED has supported more than 9,000 primary and secondary schools and more than 500,000 students with secondary scholarships.

Malala Fund

Founded by Malala Yousafzai, the Malala Fund is making significant strides in ensuring that adolescent girls in developing countries, particularly in Bangladesh, have access to secondary school education. In 2022, the foundation initiated a groundbreaking project to secure 12 years of free education for girls in Bangladesh.

The Malala Fund is also doing important work in Turkey to improve school enrollment and retention rates for refugee children. It is estimated that around 40% of Syrian refugee children living in Turkey are not attending school.

WomenOne

WomenOne does valuable work in advocating for girls’ education. The organization raises awareness about the lack of educational opportunities for girls in marginalized groups. This also includes those with disabilities and young mothers. WomenOne also implements strategies to provide these girls with the chance to receive an education.

The organization has established a center in Kenya to support girls’ education, providing counseling, academic and emotional support and teaching life skills to help them thrive. WomenOne also empowers women and girls by working with advocacy organizations such as the Girls Not Brides Coalition, protecting women and girls’ right to learn and ensuring their voices are heard.

Girl Rising

Girl Rising supports education for girls in five countries, including Guatemala. The organization provides education for Indigenous girls in Guatemala by tackling educational barriers such as racism and misogyny. It works in collaboration with community organizations to help them learn to tackle these issues. In 2023, the initiative reached 340 adolescent girls in Guatemala.

Final Remark

While the fight for girls’ education in developing nations is not over, it is clear that many organizations are working hard to ensure that all girls have the chance to learn. From working with communities to break down barriers to raising money to provide resources that are desperately needed in developing nations. The contributions these organizations make are incredibly vital. They demonstrate that everybody has the power to change the world for the better.

– Sue-Joyce Headon

Sue-Joyce is based in Liverpool, UK and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr