Telling the ECSA Story

Daniel and Uzamukunda Jacquelin riding the bicycle together. CARE Rwanda In 1997, Muhawenimana Daniel and Uzamukunda Jacqueline embarked on a daunting journey of marriage that was extremely difficult and full of challenges that put a lot of strain on their well-being and family life. Their home environment was toxic due to harmful cultural traditions and gender norms. Daniel, influenced by societal expectations, believed he should have complete authority over all household decisions, finances, and property management. This power imbalance led to a lack of communication, and understanding, and went as far as leading Daniel into intimate partner violence. Financial mismanagement exacerbated their problems, compounded by Daniel's excessive drinking. Influenced by destructive impulses from his paternal family, he engaged in polygamous relationships, neglecting his responsibilities to provide for his family. Jacqueline was left struggling to afford basic needs such as their children'

Women gather together for a meeting. CARE International Amidst the rolling landscapes of Oromia’s Borena Zone and Tigray’s Central and Eastern Zones, stories of hope and resilience are emerging. Adi Abduba, a 75-year-old widow with a disability, lives in the remote Boji Kebele, Dhas Woreda (District), in Ethiopia’s Oromia regional state. Like countless others in this arid region, her life has been a relentless struggle against poverty and hunger. A devastating drought wiped out 20 of her family’s cattle, pushing her to the brink of despair. With no food and little hope, Adi faced an uncertain future. “I was experiencing a lot of hardship before receiving the cash,” Adi said. “There were days when we went without eating, and my family couldn’t bear to see my suffering.”  Adi’s story is a poignant example of the challenges faced by millions in Ethiopia. Many regions across the country are experiencing systemic food insecurity. While the country has seen a substantial decline in poverty o

In the Mutare rural district, many young people are trapped in a cycle of poverty, hindered by inadequate education and scarce resources. For Lisa , a 17-year-old Chitora Secondary School Zimunya Ward 21 student , this was a common case she knew affected her community. Like many students, Lisa found it difficult to imagine a future beyond secondary school, as the consistently low Ordinary-level exam pass rates cast a shadow over her aspirations. Also, t he lack of resources and support made the journey seem overwhelming and challenging.   Lisa 's family situation further compounded her predicament. Her three older siblings had struggled to navigate the education system, leaving Lisa with little guidance or hope. With her parents struggling to make ends meet, it was Lisa's dream to transform the family’s standard of life for the better and a good education was the gateway to that dream.   "I was facing immense difficulties with my studies," Lisa confessed, her voic

A resident of Kassala town carrying his belongings. CARE Sudan "Heavy rains have struck conflict-ravaged Sudan, exacerbating this already-dire humanitarian crisis. As a result of the floodwaters, families, and individuals shattered by war across the country must now cope with more disease, displacement, and death. To date, at least 68 innocent lives have been lost to the flooding. Survivors of relentless displacement since last year are forced to seek shelter yet again as the spaces where they have sought refuge have been washed out. With collapsed sanitation systems and medical care on the brink, the risk of cholera and other diseases, especially in crowded displacement sites, looms large. Women and girls, already trapped in a cycle of gender-based violence, are particularly susceptible to this deteriorating context. The floods have amplified their suffering, exposing them to even greater risks. CARE continues to implore all parties to this conflict to not only cease hostilities

Portrait of Reicco Mudenda Kamwaya, a 56-year-old mother of five and dedicated leader of 25 farmers in Sikalongo village. CARE Zambia CARE, Zambia – 15, Aug 2024 - Almost half the population in Zambia, 9.8 million people, are suffering from an El-Nino-induced drought that has crippled the country since late 2023. The deteriorating situation has forced countless families to limit their food intake to one meal per day. And given the extremely dry conditions, Zambians must now travel longer distances to find water, and often the water they do find is from sources also used by animals, exposing them to waterborne diseases.     Zambia is facing one of its worst droughts in history. Of the 9.8 million people affected, 6.6 million need immediate assistance across 84 out of 116 districts in the country. A Joint Rapid Assessment by CARE and their partners in 27 affected districts revealed that 79% of people had poor or borderline food consumption scores, 76% were employing severe food consump

Evone, 26, with her food rations distributed. CARE/Johanna Mitscherlich Evone is a 23-year-old women living in a rural compound within the district of Funhalouro. She was married at 14 and has no children. She briefly attended primary school but dropped out because of inconsistent attendance due to the time needed to complete her household duties. Additionally, she stated teachers were often absent, making it difficult to learn. Within this current drought she has few routine responsibilities.   Previously, she undertook agricultural production on her husband’s land, cleaned her compound and sold small items for additional income. She stated she would buy household goods with the money generated from the surplus in her agriculture production and would then resell these household products at a small profit to other women in her immediate community. With this drought she has no viable agricultural outputs and therefore cannot buy small household goods to sell on, to generate additional i

In the heart of Akilo Payam in South Sudan, where traditional norms often dictate life's course, a remarkable story of transformation unfolds. Mary Peter Konye, a 25-year-old mother, embodies the strength and resilience of women in her community. Historically, the norms in Pibor dictated that men solely engage in farming, leaving women marginalized in decision-making and community activities. In South Sudan, the patriarchal community often restricts women to domestic roles, while men dominate public and economic spheres. This deeply entrenched gender inequality limits women's opportunities and reinforces their subordination. However, with the support of CARE International's innovative initiatives funded by the Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA), Mary's life and the lives of many others have been profoundly changed.   Mary and her husband illustrated farming techniques, in their farm, to a CARE Staff. CARE International i