In celebration of international women’s day on March 8th ,2024 Invest in women: Accelerate Programs, FOCESE is proud to share the inspiring journey of women in Blantyre, TA Kuntaja and Makata through the women’s resilience in disaster (WRD) Project. As part of the projects mission is to strengthen women’s and girl’s capacity to withstand hazards and recover from disasters, women have undergone transformative training in leadership skills. Through this sessions, women were encouraged to embrace their potential as leaders in various settings, breaking free from self-doubt and societal norms. Chrissy Mlombwa from TA Makata reflects, “At first, I didn’t believe women could be leaders. But after the training I realized my own strength, I am ready to take on leadership roles in different committees.” But the journey doesn’t stop there, we recognize the vital role that sustainable agriculture plays in women’s resilience, the project embraced the establishment of fruit forests to promote ecology for environmental conservation in all areas worse affected by Cyclone Freddy in 2023, hence beneficiaries were trained in fruit tree cultivation and provided with the necessary tree seedlings. Women are establishing fruit forest, not only for environmental conservation but also to enhance their nutrition status and to create a source of income. These Fruit trees serve as a lifeline during disasters providing food security and income stability when traditional crops fail. In addition to the fruit forests the project is yet to introduce integrated home stead farming as well as solar powered irrigation systems interventions to support women in boosting their nutritional status through the consumption of diversified food. Furthermore, the project is paving way for economic empowerment through village savings and loan associations(VSLA). Women will be trained on VSLA management and will be connected to banking institutions for easy access to loans. This initiative aims to empower women economically, enabling them to invest in their families well-being and build resilience livelihoods. Through WRD project women are not only transforming their own lives but also their communities as they stand as resilient beacons of hope, inspiring change and resilience in the face of adversity. This international women’s day, let us celebrate the strength, resilience and determination of women around the world as they lead the way towards a brighter more equitable future for all.
