Poverty is the result of inequality in multiple spheres. To address poverty, inequality must be included in the conversation. WGEF believes that elevating women's voices and providing a safe vehicle to address challenges is critical to increasing human security and women's empowerment. Every year, WGEF hosts Kikopo Pa Mon, Creating a Voice for Women, enabling women a stigma free environment to challenge their communities to step up and do better, promoting equality and justice. Last year the participants focused on Women's Role in Peacebuilding in northern Uganda. Every year women choose the topic according to what challenges they face. This year, in June, women will begin to organize and create the event. It is critical that we are fully funded to enable all who wish to participate a chance and create an event that is relevant and meaningful. To learn more, check out the included video, Voices of Courage! Thank you for your support and commitment to women's empowerment! Peace, Karen
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The Credit Plus program creates sustainable human development. By focusing not only on economic activity, but critical educational and political opportunities as well, enable women and families to increase human security and empowerment.
We have made over 3300 hundred loans, 500+ women have learned to read and write, 5 women ran for political office in 2011 with 3 successful. Poverty is the result of inequality in multiple spheres, WGEF addresses inequality by focusing on the social and political dimensions critical to systemic change.
We have not lost a loan, I believe this in due in part to the program, staff and integrity of women, wanting to create a brighter future for themselves and their families.
As we move forward into our 6th year and beyond, our program continues to be transformative, provocative and relevant. We hope you are inspired and continue to support WGEF and the women we serve in northern Uganda.
Client Quote:
My hope is back! And I have no worries now, my children will appreciate and I have started receiving thank you notes from them. Sarah said to me “thank mother for being there for us all the time even when things were hard during the war, Mumy I have learnt a lot from you and I promise I will be a perfect Mum like you in future”. I cried because of joy and happiness that my daughter brought into
"My name is Grace Arach, 29 years old, I have 3 children and a member of Kwo Aye Lonyo women group, I joined WGEF in 2008 and together with my members we have received 5 loan cycles. I sell fruits in the market and do some agriculture for home consumption. It was my first time to join any loan program and I feel preveraged to be part of the WGEF. I m so happy that I can now read and write my name an opportunity which I lost when I was young but when WEGF opened the free literacy program I was among the first one to register."
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Our 2013 literacy training is starting next week, and once again we are offering two levels, for our continuing students. This critical program enables women who, due to a long and brutal conflict, the opportunity to learn to read and write.
To date over 500 women have participated in the program, attending classes twice a week for eight months. When a woman learns to read and write, her whole world changes; possibilities and opportunities are created.This year we are hoping to provide 10 additional women with this transformative opportunity, totalling 110 women and their families to participate.
In addition, our literacy students participate in many community based programs, become leaders and advocates in their communiuty. Last week some of our literacy students marched in celebration of International Women's Day.
With the help of our Global Giving donors, we will be able to continue this important program. The best way to create sustainable human development and peace is to focus on women Access to education is a human right, thank you for your committment to social justice.
