Help Women in Sudan Open a Bakery

The training WfWI provides to participants in South Sudan does so much more than allow them to just open a bakery. Read on for a note from a WfWI staff member about the importance of investing in women and how much of an impact it can have on families and communities.

Women in Sudan are faced with extreme challenges. Female illiteracy rate hovers at 90%, only 36% of girls in Sudan are enrolled in primary school. Early marriage is widespread and the maternal death rate is among the highest in the world. 

For the women that we serve, expectations are minimal – women desire access to clean water, land, and education for their children. Women want security, protection and the ability to cultivate crops. What the elections offer is an opportunity to create a supportive environment to enable the entrepreneurial development of the people. The women and the people of Sudan are hungry for change. Change for them means food, education, protection and security.

We place so much hope in governments and invest so many resources into them--as we should--but we often forget to do the same with the people, especially with women. To build strong nations, we need to invest in women. Good governance benefits significantly from an engaged and active citizenship. As citizens, women cannot be engaged and active if they are hungry, powerless and vulnerable. So what Sudan needs, both now and after the upcoming elections, is investment. We need to invest in developing Sudan’s women by supporting their skill-building, which will in turn encourage the nation’s economic development.

Women, in the context of Sudan, have suffered severely and continue to suffer today. We need to support them and their ongoing efforts to ensure the progress of Sudan as a whole. Yes, one of the soundest strategy is the development of Sudan’s most marginalized citizens, women and children. The Sudanese people crave deliverables that will translate into real progress and development.

Supporting women will contribute to the foundation of a strong and dynamic civil society, from economic development and to the creation of education and infrastructure. We can build and strengthen the country’s women and its vulnerable population as whole.

Investments from the international community intended to encourage the development of Sudan through the empowerment of women protect the interests of the majority of the population. It is not a matter of personal gain. Women are already actively involved in rebuilding the country through the family and the community, but they lack the necessary resources and skills. With proper investment, the women of Sudan can be a driving force in rebuilding the devastated and war-torn. We need to invest in Sudan’s women. 

Meet WfWI - South Sudan graduate Rose. She is married with 7 children. During the civil war in Sudan she lost 2 of her children. Her home was also destroyed. Looking for ways to rebuild her life, Rose found WfWI. She enrolled in WfWI's year-long comprehensive training program and received training in rights awareness, health education, business skills. She also learned how to bake rolls, donuts and other bread items to sell at market. Through her business, she now earns enough money to put some aside each month in a bank account. But Rose hasn't stopped there. After her graduation she returned to WfWI to train other women to become bakers. She goes to local radio stations to talk about the importance of educating children, particularly girls. Rose is a truly wonderful example of what can happen with a bit of hard work and perseverance. 

Links:

• Visit our Website