Coronavirus Relief Fund for Vulnerable women

Zambia is among the many Countries that have been affected by the Corona Virus which has claimed lives in many Countries around world and Solwezi District has not been spared from the pandemic. Most of the poor People especially vulnerable women in Zambia live on less than a dollar per day and COVID-19 has just worsened the situation. Women are the most affected people in the communities. In Solwezi, all the families have been confined in their homes spending the little income raised from their small business. Therefore, COVID-19 has left families in Solwezi without food, soap and other essential basic needs such as medical bills and many others, which are cardinal for human survival. The loss of business and employment opportunities due to COVID-19 has caused many vulnerable women to be involved in prostitution and other illicit activities to enable them earn a living which compromises their human dignity.

Women’s economic empowerment is critical to achieving gender equality and sustainable development. Women are key contributors to economies as producers of food, managers of natural resources and as entrepreneurs and employees. Additionally, women are the main providers of unpaid care and domestic work - globally, women do 2.6 times the unpaid care and domestic work that men do. Economic empowerment is one of the most powerful routes for women to achieve their potential and advance their rights. Since women make up the majority of the worlds poor, meeting poverty-reduction goals requires addressing women and their economic empowerment. Working with women makes good business sense. When women have the right skills and opportunities, they can help businesses and markets grow. Women who are economically empowered contribute more to their families, societies and national economies. It has been shown that women invest extra income in their children, providing a route to sustainable development.

In order to mitigate the COVID'19 negative impacts on the vulnerable women, Charity Centre for Children and Youth Development created a Coronavirus Relief Fund which has now been redeveloped into Afri-Seed Fund meaning African Seed Fund to provide seed capital to vulnerable women affected by Coronavirus in Zambia. 

So far, over 100 vulnerable  women have beneficted from the project in Solwezi District of Zambia. Our goal is to reach out to 500 vulnerable women in Zambia.

Continue supporting supporting the project and help women stand on their feet.

• PROJECT IMPACT EVALUATION REPORT (PDF)