UWADS Continues Providing Women Marketable Skills for Economic Independence with New Project

Rockflower is pleased to announce the continued support of Uganda Women Advocacy and Development Services (UWADS), as they undertake a new project to economically empower the women of the district of Bududa. In the past, Rockflower has worked with UWADS to construct a local bakery in the district of Mbale and provide women the skills necessary to bake and establish their own small businesses. This project proved to be a great success as the women were able to learn useful skills, create their own small businesses and even move forward to create small savings programs in their communities.

In their new initiative, UWADS will replicate and expand this program utilizing the help of the women previously trained, to build a local bakery in the district of Bududa. UWADS will train women to bake, start their own small businesses and take strides toward economic empowerment and independence. This group of women includes single mothers, many of whom are still children, girls who have left school, and women and girls who have escaped abusive situations.

Given the success of the organization’s previous project, the potential for the women's success in this endeavor is extremely high. Rockflower looks forward to supporting UWADS in this new project as the women of Bududa gain skills, education and most importantly independence.

A Year in Reflection: African Youth Alliance Reports on Year One of the Five Keys Five Villages Project

In 2020, female-led and volunteer-run community-based organization, African Youth Alliance, overcame a number of unique struggles but still managed to persevere in their mission to empower rural women and girls in the North West Region of Cameroon. AYA has been a Rockflower partner for five years but recently undertook a two year, multi-key approach to prove the merits of community based education and empowerment. Since beginning their two year project with Rockflower, AYA has been able to develop and build the skills of over 350 women and girls from 5 vulnerable rural communities.

In this first year of the project AYA volunteers educated women on topics including female leadership, family planning, community health, agricultural practices, basic accounting principles and more. Early sessions on hygiene, community health and agricultural practices played a key role in community resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic caused AYA to suspend operations temporarily, with the support of Rockflower the organization was able to provide its participants with critically important PPE and even began producing soap powder. In communities affected by conflict, the women focused on identifying challenges they faced in their current situations and collaborated to determine methods for acting as mediators of peace in their communities.

Despite the challenges faced by AYA and its participants, the organization has made great strides in educating and economically empowering women to become leaders in their communities. The women were able to move forward with producing goods like soap and body lotion as well as establishing and harvesting crops from farms and gardens. AYA has even been able to issue a number of loans to women looking to scale their agricultural operations. Looking ahead to year two, AYA hopes to expand their education sessions and ensure that all of the women involved are on the path to becoming fully empowered community leaders.

Technology Has Proven to be Essential During this Pandemic, but How Do We Make Sure to Reach Those Women Who Lack Both Skills & Access?

Social distancing and remote work have become the norm as the world grapples with solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. Collectively, our reliance on technology is greater than ever before and yet many still lack access to the most basic forms of equipment, knowledge and expertise. Many Syrian women face considerable roadblocks to meaningful and impactful participation in society, and having limited or no access to technology exacerbates the isolation and further impacts women’s labor force participation negatively.

The Center for Civil Society and Democracy have long been working to improve this technological gap. In March at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rockflower partnered with them on a pilot project, Supporting Syrian Women to Have Access to Technology. The two main goals of this project were: to provide Syrian women with equipment and to train them to be digitally literate. Not only did the project achieve those objectives, but it also created a safe and supportive environment and expanded networks for women to stay connected during a trying time for so many.

The pilot project began by identifying 10 Syrian women living in Turkey to participate. First, they joined a WebEx group session to learn more about technology. A consultative approach was taken in the form of one-on-one online sessions between CCSD staff and the 10 participants to formulate what was needed most, which lead to the final decision on what the main projects would constitute.

Each participant received twelve 2 hour sessions, in which the topics included: the importance of technology, navigating the Internet, social media platforms, Microsoft Word and Excel application features and mentorship on final projects.

Four laptops were distributed to women who completed a satisfactory needs assessment and did not have regular access to a laptop. This pilot project found that Syrian women in Turkey have access to the Internet on their phones, but to provide greater economic empowerment computers are critically important.

The pilot project was a vital starting point to build on a program that will prove to be extremely beneficial for a number of Syrian women living in Turkey. These training sessions have already resulted in a job offer for one of the participants, a support network for the women involved, both professionally and personally, an increase in their confidence and knowledge and of course, the acquisition of new skills.

New developments for the continuation of the program have also occurred, including splitting the course into knowledge levels, the addition of courses such as Turkish language tutoring and project management, and flexible times to allow for maximum participation.

The next steps for the program are to distribute more laptops and work on the next round of courses. Rockflower looks forward to continuing to work with CCSD to make this a reality.

Participants and Training Facilitators during the Presentation of their Learnings for the Entire Program - August 2020

Slides from the E-Government Presentation

Five Women's Stories of Capital Investment through Save Society Foundation

Michael Ariamba, Founder and Executive Director of Save Society Foundation in South Sudan, sent us a report of five women’s stories. The seed money received from Rockflower has helped women with their businesses that needed an injection of capital that couldn’t request loans at nearby banks.

Khamisa Stephen - Restaurant in Hai Jabel

“My husband and I have seven children. We have struggled to raise them due to a lack of income, we can’t pay for their school fees or their health bills. I started my business with a small amount of capital, less than $50 USD, which isn’t even enough to buy chairs or plates for my restaurant. 

I received the $200 USD (equals SSP 33,000) in seed money from Save Society Foundation and Rockflower as my first loan. Now, I can scale my business by buying 10 chairs and a number of plates. I have already seen an increase in my sales and clientele. 

My future plans include continuing to increase my capital to have a sustainable basis for my business to grow. This will increase my income and improve my children’s futures by allowing them to go to school.”

Maimona Stephen - Sells African Clothing in Hai Jabel

“I am a single mother of 5 children. My husband abandoned us. I started a small business selling secondhand and new African clothing. It was hard to start my business and did not thrive at first because local banks do not give out small loans. 

I received a loan from the seed money Save Society Foundation gave out from Rockflower. In one month, I have increased my inventory and seen a growth in sales. This has already improved my family’s living standards economically and my children will have a better future.”

Florence Sadia - Hair Salon in Hai Jabel

“In South Sudan, it is not easy to get loans from banks, especially since I am a widow and do not have a bank grantee. I lost my husband during the war and am a single mother of three children. 

The seed money has allowed me to scale my business. During the past month, I have added more materials resulting in more options in my shop. I’ve already seen a difference, my daily sales have increased.”

Joice Kila - Sells Vegetables in St Kizito Market, Juba

“I have lost my husband and was left a single mother. Due to medical costs I couldn’t afford, 3 of my four children passed away. My child and I moved from Khartoum to Juba. But I had no hope left, we had no money, nowhere to live and no employment. I was desperate for help and one day, someone gave me the advice to start my own business. I began a mobile business selling vegetables, such as casava and sweet potatoes, in the markets of Juba, South Sudan. With the seed money from Save Society Foundation and Rockflower, I was able to buy a wheelbarrow. Now I don’t have to carry the buckets of vegetables I can push them. This has also allowed me to have more product at one time and increased my sales. The small rise in profits has already increased our living standards.”

Loyce Hawa - Sells Soft Drinks in Shuku Libya Market Place

“A few years ago, my husband abandoned my children and me, leaving me a single mother. Life was hard to bear. I had no means of support. I had to change my living situation, so I opened a small business selling soft drinks. However, this did not sustain our household as the rent was high for both my business and our house. 

With the capital injection into my business from Rockflower and Save Society Foundation, I am able to support my family and improve my business.”

Rockflower Partners with the Save Society Foundation

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Save Society Foundation.

The Save Society Foundation works at the community level in South Sudan to build the capacity of the marginalized communities, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, women, youth, and peoples with disabilities, to enable them to have a better standard of living through economic transformation, improved health, quality education and promotion of peace, conflict mitigation and democracy.

Due to wars and illnesses, such as HIV and AIDS, Sudanese women have lost their husbands. The Improve Standard of Living for Homeless Sudanese Women project will help them to start earning an income and improve their housing conditions with their savings to pay land title deeds, land surveys for permanent ownership, pay school tuition fees for their children, and/or healthcare.

Graphic Design Course with the AVAZ Association

Rockflower’s ongoing commitment to the AVAZ Association to Establish a Women’s Technology Education Center has begun a Graphic Design course. Instruction will begin during the first week of August. The Public Health Directorate has granted permission to the AVAZ Association for in-person instruction.

The subject will be taught to two groups of 12 female refugees, 24 in total, over the course of 6 months. Over 50 applications were received. The intention is to provide the refugee women with economic empowerment opportunities in areas other than the typically gendered options, such as sewing, embroidery and hairdressing. The study plan for the course can be viewed below.

Rockflower Partners with Center for Civil Society and Democracy

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Center for Civil Society and Democracy.

The Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) works to support a tolerant and inclusive democracy for Syria where there is respect for diversity, justice, equality, and freedom for all Syrians.

Many Syrian women face roadblocks to participate in society in a meaningful and impactful way and with the impact of COVID-19, having limited or no access to technology exacerbates the isolation and further impacts women’s labor force participation negatively. Digital literacy has been proven as a factor that improves women’s access to employment opportunities where providing useful and applied skills can build confidence and create more opportunities for women. CCSD is launching the Supporting Syrian Women to Have Access to Technology project as an initiative and plans to expand this effort in order to create a platform for a concerted effort towards closing gender gaps in digital literacy as the world moves faster and faster towards online communication.

Pivoting from Entrepreneurship to Medicine

Last year, we began partnering with the Jimbere Fund. Their work to mobilize women in rural communities of the Democratic Republic of Congo aligned perfectly with one of our five keys - Economic Empowerment. Our partnership resulted in the Minembwe Women Entrepreneurs Project, which aimed to train and finance 30 women entrepreneurs who would launch businesses that would directly impact approximately 210 people.

The project was fully funded and we were looking forward to hearing about the innovation and results that would follow. However in November of 2019 that all changed. We were informed by Obadias Ndaba, CEO and Founder of the Jimbere Fund, and Sandra Uwiringiyimana, Co-founder and Director of Partnerships and Communications, that the country which had been in deep conflict for several months was reaching a tipping point. More than 200,000 people had fled fighting in the South Kivu highlands as a long-simmering struggle over land, power, and citizenship descended into village burnings and widespread killings. The violence was centered on the remote mountainous areas of Minembwe and Itombwe, where the Banyamulenge, a cattle-herding group of Rwandan origin, had lived for many generations. A coalition of militias from those who consider themselves to be “indigenous Congolese” have been attacking the Banyamulenge. A combination of washed-out roads and insecurity had led many aid groups to scale back and only be able to provide limited assistance to the displaced.

Given these urgent circumstances, and on the request of Obadias and Sandra, we made the decision to shift the money planned for the Minembwe Women Entrepreneurs Project to purchase much-needed medicine and support for the remaining medical staff on the ground.

“And because no one from outside can ever have as current and nuanced an understanding as those within, foundations need to work with local partners who do have that knowledge, and who are given the flexibility to respond to changing conditions.”

- “No Easy Answers for International Grantmakers” by Ruth Levine

We recently received an extensive report from the Jimbere Fund detailing the activities from December to February, the medicines that had been airlifted and of the 985 patients who were consulted in the Minembwe Health Zone.

Whilst this particular conflict is ongoing and thousands remain displaced and hunkered down in their attempts to find safety, we remain committed to trusting our local partners and their knowledge. Our model has proven that we can be adaptable to the changes occurring around the globe. It will serve us well in the coming months ahead as we navigate the impact of a global pandemic reaching into every corner of our work.

Rockflower Partners with YWISD

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with Youth and Women Initiative for Sustainable Development (YWISD).

YWSID was founded with the purpose of increasing women’s participation in productive roles, reducing the increasing number of unemployed youth, bridging the gap of gender and economic inequalities, and reducing school dropouts, among other pressing community challenges of youth and women in Uganda, in particular, Wakiso.

The Weaving with YWISD Project aims to create employment opportunities for young women through non-formal education training in weaving baskets, handbags or wallets for women and entrepreneurship skills.

WAP Working Hard to End Child Marriage

The Women Advocacy Project (WAP) has been hard at work this year to end child marriage in Zimbabwe. In the last few months, they have held a soap making training and a child marriage abolition campaign.

Soap Making Training

In September, WAP launched a soap making training for 30 girls. The purpose of the program is to economically empower the girls and resist the families’ pressure to marry them. Utilizing the donations from Rockflower and the Advocacy Project (AP) and a grant from Germany, a professional was hired to run the training sessions and supplies were purchased. “Clean Girl” soap is a household detergent The soap is sold by 5 girls at local “Tuck Shops”. Read more on the project through AP’s Global Giving campaign report.

Child Marriage Abolition Campaign

For International Day of the Girl (observed on October 11, 2019), WAP held a Child Marriage Abolition Campaign. The day was full of testimonies, activities, and speeches, including one given by the Provincial Head of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development. WAP ended with a call to action in abolishing child marriage and greater investments to improve girls’ education and economic empowerment.

Save the Bees

Rockflower partnered with Kinyamaseke Girls Youth in Development (KYID) to support their vision of conserving the Black Bees. Not only does this project maintain the biodiversity of their local environment, it provides opportunities for economic empowerment, including but not limited to higher crop yields and products to sell at market.

With the $3,000 grant funded by Rockflower, KYID was able to do the following:

• Conduct a 2-day training workshop for 62 stakeholders

During the training workshop, stakeholders learned the economic and environmental benefits of conserving pollinators, particularly bees. Handling and maintenance of the beehives was presented. The girls of KYID presented how they are benefitting from the project by learning beekeeping skills.

• Tour to Kamwenge for a 2-day education visit

The community of Kamwenge has formed a beekeeping cooperative, the Kamwenge Beekeepers Association. The Director of the association spoke on the process of beekeeping and the products that can be derived from it. Topics included but were not limited to types of bees, behaviors exhibited, and the equipment and materials used to manage beehives.

• Procure beehives and necessary supplies for the apiary

Necessary supplies, including 5 beekeeping suits, 2 smokers, 4 buckets, 5 pairs of gloves, barbed wire, 2 gumboots, and 14 beehives, were purchased.

• Monitor and evaluate progress by holding a full day of meetings

Throughout this project, KYID has found that knowledge development provides benefits including improved self- and community-esteem, increased participation in decision-making processes, and something as small and individual as a bee can make a big change in a community.

Benefits of Bio-Briquettes

The Rwenzori United Group for Life Improvement (RUGLI) recently delivered the results of the Bio-Briquette Project that was funded last year. Funding from Rockflower bought two compression machines and other materials utilized in the bio-briquette production process.

The project had two key objectives: to add value to agro-waste and household by-products that would otherwise be unused resulting in local pollution; and, to utilize the unwanted biomass resources to develop and promote the use of more efficient and cleaner substitutes for fuel, such as wood and charcoal (the major cause of deforestation and environment degradation and indoor pollution health hazards).

RUGLI is located in Uganda, where members are acutely aware of the impact of climate change. Bio-briquettes are a solution that resulted from the community’s realization that they must actively participate in climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

The bio-briquettes are not only improving the local environment, but the women beneficiaries are reaping the benefits of an increased standard of living and profits gained by skills training. The training provides women with the opportunity to learn how to make high quality bio-briquettes out of local materials, for instance organic waste made of coffee grounds, rice husks, banana peels, and charcoal dust. 67% of the community has begun producing briquettes and therefore more households are utilizing them for cooking.

Annet, a 30 year old mother of five living in Kasese, stated “the briquettes are cheaper, dustless and burn longer.” Annet used to spend over UGX 115,500 (about $35 USD) every month on charcoal to cook food for her family, which accounted for 50% of her monthly income. Due to the introduction of “green charcoal,” or bio-briquettes, in her district, she only spends about UGX 59,400 (about $18 USD) on charcoal per month. The bio-briquettes have helped her save time and money that she can put into her own business, selling food crops in the market.

Betty Kasigazi, a member of RUGLI, said “the training and equipment has allowed us to take part in an income generating activity that enables us to provide for our households without destroying our environment.” The training has also helped to change the perception of the role women must play as they have generated household income and environmental protection. The women operating the bio-briquette business are becoming economically empowered as the supply for briquettes is lower than the demand. A kilo of briquettes is sold at UGX 1,320 (about $0.40), which is much less than the price of traditional charcoal. “If {RUGLI] sells all of the briquettes produced in a week, each member receives about UGX 350,000 (about $100). This helps us to pay school fees and buy basic household items like soap, paraffin, salt and sugar,” Betty adds.

This project demonstrates how simple innovations can lead to socio-economic transformation, as well as ownership. It can be used as an example to inform other productive sectors, such as forestry, where women have always played a significant role in sustainable forest and land management through agroforestry to collecting fuelwood and developing non-wood forest products for food, medicine, and shelter.

Women should be given the opportunity to take part in the design and creation of sustainable solutions to climate change and forest conservation challenges as household managers, farmers, and consumers. Bringing women to the decision-making table promotes both gender equality and sustainable development.

The success of RUGLI’s Bio-Briquette Project is an inspiring example of how simple actions can transform societies and how, when empowered, women can break down barriers between men and women.

Samoumat Economic Independence Project

Rockflower is launching a campaign with the Amal Association to provide the women's group in Samoumat, Morocco with tools that they can use to maintain their physical and emotional health in a productive, communal environment.

The goal of $3,500 will supply the women’s group with sewing machines to develop greater self-sufficiency, and basic exercise equipment, such as yoga mats and weights, to maintain their physical health.

The Samoumat Economic Independence Project campaign is being led by Amanda Swenson, a Global Ambassador in our Catalyzer Collective.

About the Amal Association of Samoumat

The Amal Association is a branch of a national Moroccan organization committed to supporting a wide variety of social and economic development projects. In Samoumat, the Amal Association has undertaken projects ranging from maintenance of the local water and irrigation systems to advocacy on behalf of their community seeking to defend the public health. The goals of the Amal Association of Samoumat include protecting those who are most marginalized within the community and promoting both socioeconomic and public health through coordination with local, regional, national and international organizations and authorities. The Amal Association is a registered Moroccan non-profit, non-governmental organization.

Rockflower Partners with the Amal Association to Provide Economic Independence in Samoumat

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Amal Association. The goals of the Amal Association of Samoumat include protecting those who are most marginalized within the community and promoting both socioeconomic and public health through coordination with local, regional, national and international organizations and authorities.

Rockflower will provide funding to purchase a projector, a whiteboard, 15 sewing machines, a table, and sports equipment for teaching classes that will lead to opportunities for economic independence.

Find out more about the Samoumat Economic Independence Project.

Rockflower Partners with Jimbere Fund to Train Women Entrepreneurs in the DRC

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Jimbere Fund. They provide women from some of the poorest households in Congo’s rural communities with training and grants to launch businesses.

Rockflower will provide funding for a year-long training and seed grants to 30 women to become entrepreneurs and start small businesses.

Find out more about the Minembwe Women Entrepreneurs Project.

Success Stories from RUGLI

Muhundo Bridget

One evening, Muhundo Bridget was watching television when she happened upon a documentary on briquettes. An entrepreneur began describing the production process and demonstrating how the machines worked. Muhundo became interested and found out more through RUGLI. She began to envision herself as an entrepreneur but did not know where to start. Due to her enterprise, Practical Action approached Muhundo and introduced her to the WEEK Project.

Muhundo was given the skills, knowledge and confidence to begin her business. She met with other entrepreneurs, like herself, and started manufacturing the briquettes. Demand is high and she intends to increase her production and deliveries while improving her facilities. Because of the rainy season, it takes longer for the briquettes to dry so Muhundo would like to grow her space and upgrade the drying rack. But, since she is a part of RUGLI, she is able to dry her briquettes in the production house.

Muhundo has high ambitions and is excited for her new entrepreneurial journey.

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Kasine Moreen

During the Rwenzori United Group for Life Improvement (RUGLI) field visit to Saluti Village in Nyamwamba subcounty, RUGLI met Kasine Moreen. She is married to Balinda Roland with 7 children and has lived in the area for the past 3 years. Kasine is a beneficiary of the project.

She said, “I am grateful to be selected to participate in briquette production here. It has not only reunited me with my husband and children, but has enabled me to be a role model in my community. Earlier this year, we did not have enough money to pay for our children to attend school. I had to take care of my children on my own and had lost hope when I saw them hungry and suffering. However due to this project, I have gained skills and knowledge to make briquettes and clay energy efficient cooking stoves that help me to earn money and put food on the table. We can afford to have 3 meals a day now! This and meeting with other women in RUGLI to share, discuss and learn from each other has instilled my confidence.

We are producing 40 kilograms of briquettes daily which equals around $35 a week.

I am happy, self-employed and grateful to be a part of this amazing project. I believe we should reach out to as many women as we can, it will transform societies!”

Read more about RUGLI in Issue 6 of our quarterly newsletter, It Takes Five.

Rockflower Partners with Association Burkinabé des Femmes Battantes on Weaving and Dyeing Project in Burkina Faso

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with Association Burkinabé des Femmes Battantes (ABFB) over the next 12 months to install a weaving/dyeing loom in Godin village.

The ABFB was created in 2008 by a group of women who recognized a common desire to fight for the development of women. The organization now has 300 members, based in Ouagadougou with five auxiliary groups. The organization has 812 beneficiaries, with programs to produce and process shea butter, chicken farming, weaving and dyeing, education on hygiene and sanitation, fighting HIV, and the promotion of human rights with special emphasis on the rights of women and children.

Find out more about the Weaving and Dyeing Project.

Rockflower Partners with Footsteps Africa to Reduce Poverty in rural Malawi

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with Footsteps Africa. They promote women’s livelihoods and health, rural youth employment readiness, and  marginalized children’s improved access to education by working at the frontier of poverty and gender inequality.

Rockflower will invest in a two year project to create business and marketing capacity for rural bee farming women to engage in honey processing and branding that can access profitable markets.

Find out more about the Reducing Poverty through Honey Production and Distribution in rural Malawi Project. 

Rockflower Partners with Kinyamaseke Girls Youth in Development to Conserve Black Bees in Uganda

Rockflower is pleased to announce a new partnership with Kinyamaseke Girls Youth in Development (KYID). KYID promotes a community of female youth that is responsible, tolerant, accountable, respectful, and working voluntarily to improve their livelihood for meaningful development.

Rockflower will partner with KYID on a project to conserve black bees as pollinators, seeking both a solution to environmental degradation and providing economic opportunities for young girls through the sale of honey and by-products to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.  

Find out more about the Black Bees Pollinator Project.

Rockflower partner Jiwo Paro Receives Multiple Recognitions

Jiwo Paro and their co-founder, Dancan Onyango,have received a number of recognitions recently. In August, Dancan Onyango was selected alongside 13 other entrepreneurs across five countries in east Africa, to attend a Startup Collaborator Event by Enpact in Berlin, Germany. Rockflower has continued to provide professional development investment to Dancan and his team by covering the cost of transportation to Germany. The investment proved significant as Jiwo Paro won the Pitch Contest and will be participating in a year-long startup mentoring program.

Dancan was also awarded the prestigious Diversity Leadership Fellowship for 2018/19 at the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, Massachusetts. Dancan provided some thoughts as to why he believes an MBA will impact his personal and professional development as well as gain him credibility in his respective field. “ I anticipate that on completion of the programme, I will have gained instruction from top notch professionals on how best to contribute to the regional and global discussion. I am also certain that the interaction with fellow counterparts from the programme will enrich my learning experience and further reinvigorate my drive to influence and be part of change in my community.”

Building on the Rockflower partnership, Dancan Onyango will be connecting with another of Rockflower’s partners Women’s World Banking at their event in New York on November 7th, Making Finance Work for Women.

We are excited to see what comes next for Dancan and Jiwo Paro.

“In identifying me as a change maker, Rockflower has shown me that I can continue to believe that I am part of an emerging world community, whereby my actions contribute to building good and sustainable community practices. I am perfectly aware of the world beyond me. In distinguishing myself from the rest, I have learned to respect diverse values and practices. I am eager to shift my paradigm in solving world issues. Furthermore, I acknowledge that it is by working collectively to tackle issues that I can live to see many of the ideals I strive for in my community.”

— Dancan Onyango