The reality of gender inequality, and especially gender-based violence, is that it’s as complex and multifaceted as it is heart-breaking. The myriad challenges to gender equality range from explicit structural failings, such as ineffective law enforcement, to implicit social and cultural barriers. In Uganda, there are a number of cultural practices that perpetuate inequality between men and women yet continue to be practiced today.
In adulthood, women are still treated as second-class citizens both in the public and private spheres. Traditionally, house work is extremely gendered; wives are expected to care for the children, prepare meals, wash laundry, clean the house, tend to crops and even work outside of the home for additional income. Meanwhile, men aren’t expected to take nearly as much responsibility for their children, yet they’re considered the primary financial providers and heads of the household. In other words, women are over-worked and under-appreciated. This reality is especially reflected in the fact that equal land ownership still doesn’t exist in Uganda. To this day, women cannot inherit any land owned by their late fathers, brothers, or husbands. When a man passes away, his property is inherited by his son or another chosen male family member – but never his wife. This inhumane policy, enforced by cultural views, poses a significant challenge to female widows and single mothers as they can find themselves unexpectedly homeless in the wake of their husband’s passing.
Our new project has just launched which is designed to empower local women in the community. We have focussed the program on women suffering from domestic abuse, widows, single mums or simply women who are just in need!
CHANGE TOMORROW has three approaches to women’s economic empowerment:
1.
Building capacity of the women in agriculture for both household food security and household income, by working with women farmer groups. We train them in agriculture, education and provide some inputs.
2.
Building entrepreneurship skills among the women and encouraging the women to work in groups so as to save and be loanable. We do this by training the women in entrepreneurship skills and encourage them to save as a group then we train them on how to manage their savings and lending activities.
3.
Teaching local women the skills needed for them to be community leaders, leaders of women, to stand up for their rights, to demand equality and to be strong independant entrepreneurs.
Be part of the movement!
