Today is International Women's Day and I can't help but think about women that I've met in Bangladesh and Malawi and especially those that I will meet when I go to Uganda.
Historically, Ugandan women have been treated as subordinate to men (which is true in most cultures.) Women were taught to obey the wishes of the men in their lives (fathers, brothers, husbands, etc.) Women were expected to kneel when speaking with a man, and to demonstrate their subordination to men in all areas of their public life.
And yet it has always been the women who have shouldered the responsibility to make sure that their families survive. They were completely responsible for childcare, housework, and working outside the home in their sparse fields to make sure the family had food to eat and wood to keep the fire going. Whenever a woman succeeded not only in cultivating their crops to feed their family but also to have enough to sell, the man would take all the credit (and the money). Even today, in rural areas such as Katine, Uganda, "women need their husbands' permission to participate in development schemes, such as the village savings and loans associations".
But that is starting to change. Organizations such as World Vision, UWEAL (Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited) and Caring Hands (among many others) are empowering women to have dignity and new hope for the future.
After the World Vision portion of my upcoming trip to Uganda, I will be staying with friends of mine who have been missionaries in Kampala, Uganda through Fida International since 1995. They are the founders of Caring Hands.
Caring hands is made up of volunteers who assist families living in poverty, giving them new hope for the future. Making jewelry out of recycled paper has become the most important income generating means for Caring Hands. About 50 women have been trained in making beads from recycled paper which is turned to beautiful jewelry. The jewelry is then sent around the world to market for these ladies and this is the main source of income for Caring Hands. This has given women self-esteem, put a smile on their faces and alleviated their struggles with poverty. The profits are used for various charitable activities. Over the years they have provided wheelchairs, sewing machines, dental care, funeral costs, clothing, food, medical assistance and much more.
Historically, Ugandan women have been treated as subordinate to men (which is true in most cultures.) Women were taught to obey the wishes of the men in their lives (fathers, brothers, husbands, etc.) Women were expected to kneel when speaking with a man, and to demonstrate their subordination to men in all areas of their public life.
And yet it has always been the women who have shouldered the responsibility to make sure that their families survive. They were completely responsible for childcare, housework, and working outside the home in their sparse fields to make sure the family had food to eat and wood to keep the fire going. Whenever a woman succeeded not only in cultivating their crops to feed their family but also to have enough to sell, the man would take all the credit (and the money). Even today, in rural areas such as Katine, Uganda, "women need their husbands' permission to participate in development schemes, such as the village savings and loans associations".
But that is starting to change. Organizations such as World Vision, UWEAL (Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited) and Caring Hands (among many others) are empowering women to have dignity and new hope for the future.
After the World Vision portion of my upcoming trip to Uganda, I will be staying with friends of mine who have been missionaries in Kampala, Uganda through Fida International since 1995. They are the founders of Caring Hands.Caring hands is made up of volunteers who assist families living in poverty, giving them new hope for the future. Making jewelry out of recycled paper has become the most important income generating means for Caring Hands. About 50 women have been trained in making beads from recycled paper which is turned to beautiful jewelry. The jewelry is then sent around the world to market for these ladies and this is the main source of income for Caring Hands. This has given women self-esteem, put a smile on their faces and alleviated their struggles with poverty. The profits are used for various charitable activities. Over the years they have provided wheelchairs, sewing machines, dental care, funeral costs, clothing, food, medical assistance and much more.
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| Caring Hands Beads |
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