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Our Vision:
The Vision of Project Africa is curved from a background of the need to empower women and girls in rural Africa as key agents of change. Women bear almost all responsibility for meeting basic needs of the family both as breadwinners and caregivers, yet are systematically denied the resources, information and freedom to make decisions and take appropriate action that they need to fulfill this responsibilities.
The Challenge: Lack of Resources and Opportunity
With the current world financial crisis, high food price is having a severe impact on women. All over rural Africa like in other parts of the world, millions of people eat two or three times a day, but a significant percentage of women eat only once. And, now, many women are denying themselves even that one meal to ensure that their children are fed. These women are already suffering the effects of even more severe malnutrition, which inevitably will be their children's fate as well. The impact of this crisis will be with us for many years. Other challenges that women in rural Africa face include; lack of financial support, equipment and other resources that can help them convert their ideas and talents into income generating activities. Because of lack of ownership to property like land as many are denied the right to inherit from a deceased father or spouse women cannot make decisions on administration of family property. While harmful traditional practises like wife-inheritance, FGM and early marriages for girls rob women their human rights making them objects of servitude.
"When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life."
Kofi Annan
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The Problem: Poverty
We live in an age where over half the world’s population has to survive on less than $1 a day. In Africa, majority of those living below the poverty line are women and they are living in the rural villages of Africa where poverty has beaten deep. Research shows that the vast majority of the world's poor are women. Two-thirds of the world's illiterates are female. Of the millions of school age children not in school, the majority are girls. And today, HIV/AIDS is rapidly becoming a woman's disease since women are blamed for infection, depended upon for care of the infected and support of the affected. Studies also show that, in several Sub-Saharan African countries, more than three-quarters of all young people living with HIV are women.
The Solution: Education, Proper Healthcare and Micro Credit with investment in vocational Skills and Agriculture are powerful tools in the alleviation of poverty in Africa. One fact that cannot be denied is that when women are supported and empowered, all of society benefits. Their families are healthier, more children go to school, agricultural productivity improves and incomes increase. In short, communities become more developed and sustained.Indeed, Life in Africa can be improved if women are considered as agents of change and given the empowerment they need by:
· Removing barriers that prevent women from gaining skills and participating in income-generating projects.
· Encouraging Education for girls and adult education for rural women,
· Increasing micro-credit schemes for women and investment in the agricultural sector would help women win the economic fight.
Wherever we work, our projects and programs carry forth Project Africa’s vision whose prime objective is to support women and girls and build their capacity. Improving incomes, and expanding the opportunities available for women in rural Africa. In meeting the needs of sustainable rural development the importance of agricultural and vocational education is indisputable and the strength of cottage industries cannot be denied.
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