[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Written by Amy Lindholm.
After 10 years of inspiring women through wellness, education, and economic opportunities, we have been noticing some trends and shifts in the recent project applications from our knowledgeable local leaders.
SowHope recently received an application to fund an economic project benefiting a group of women from one of our partners in the DR of Congo. The project focuses on enhancing the local women’s ability to support their families through agriculture, livestock, or small businesses. The women in this project are all survivors of armed violence. Our partner, Theo, wrote that the project will include training sessions with the women and their husbands to teach them about parents’ responsibilities, respect for women’s rights, and that women are equal to men. He proposes that men and women participate in the training together to teach that women and men are partners and they “must struggle for the common interest of their children. Men have power–not to dominate women, but to protect and promote human rights.” Our partner aims to increase the success of these economic projects through women being recognized as equals to men.
Many women living in the DR of Congo have been so greatly objectified as a result of tumultuous national circumstances. SowHope’s program strategy is to rely on and empower local leaders using local solutions to solve local problems. Our local partner, Theo, proposes involving men in training sessions aimed at enlightening the men about women’s potential and value. He says that a cultural shift must take place for projects like this to be more sustainable.
Want to help SowHope support more efforts like this?
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