UN Women was founded in July 2010. One of its main aims is to create the conditions for women to work and support their families. Empowering women is showing positive results for regenerating communities all over the developing world. That’s because women are more likely to invest their earnings in the health, education and wellbeing of their families and communities. Yet in Zimbabwe as elsewhere, women lag far behind men in access to land, credit, and decent jobs.
Women’s disempowerment starts early when they are denied access to education. Without any legitimate way to earn the most basic living, they go into adulthood at risk of violence in dubious jobs and relationships. And they’re certainly not at the table when decisions on pay and equality are being made. That’s the vital lifeline that UN Women offers: ‘[to be] a dynamic and strong champion for women and girls, providing them with a voice…’
Beauty (see previous posts) could use that powerful voice this month. Together with many of her single mother friends, she’s being moved on from her (literally) self-build home to make way for incomers who have been given the land. Now she’ll have to knock down her house and move it, mudbrick by mudbrick, to rebuild in a field a few kilometres away. Her recent micro-businesses, selling used carrier bags in the market and selling eggs from her chickens, were doing quite well, but she’s been ill during the summer – and now this. Yet she’s ready to start over, as long her son Paidamoyo can continue at school.
Beauty is just one woman in one community. How can we get her and her friends plugged in to the power of UN Women so they can carry on ‘doing it for themselves’? Who exactly do we have a chat with? In the meantime, you can help Beauty and her friends by donating to the Trust on our Appeals Page. (The ‘Donate’ button is halfway down in the right hand column) All your money goes straight to the communities the Trust supports.
Whether it’s £10, £20, £50 or £100, you’ll be helping Beauty and her friends rebuild their future – and the futures of their children. Thanks for reading.
