Telling the ECSA Story

CARE supports girls in Somalia to access education and to stay in school. At just 16, Khadija* has achieved something remarkable: she became the top student in Jubaland state, Somalia, in the national Grade 8 exams. Her success is a personal victory and a powerful testament to the transformative impact of the Girls' Education and Empowerment Program (GEEPS) in Somalia. One that may not have been reali z ed due to circumstances beyond her control.     Khadija , born into a big family in Kismayo, knows firsthand the struggles girls face in Somalia. Education is a distant dream for many girls, held back by poverty, droughts, early marriage, the constant threat of conflict, dwindling resources that forced parents to prioritize boys' education, and harmful traditions that kept them from reaching their potential. Khadija 's goal of becoming a teacher seemed almost unattainable , overshadowed by her community's harsh realities of life.     "I used to watch other girls...

Isabelle Niyotwagirwa présente ses luffas biologiques dans sa ferme à Mutaho. Ayant identifié un vide sur le marché, Isabelle est passée de la vente d'articles sur le marché à l'agriculture. Grâce à l'agriculture, elle fournit non seulement des fruits frais à des prix abordables à la communauté, mais elle emploie également des femmes et des jeunes dans ses fermes ( CARE/David Mutua) . Dans les contreforts du volcan Nyiragongo, en République démocratique du Congo, Isabelle Niyotwagirwa et deux ouvriers agricoles sont à pied d'œuvre pour défricher le sol et commencer une nouvelle série de plantations après une récolte fructueuse. La poussière s'élève dans l'air lorsque leurs houes frappent le sol, le préparant pour de nouvelles cultures de prunes, de bananiers, de racines de flèche, d'amarante et de choux.   Isabelle est passée à l'agriculture après avoir tenu un petit kiosque sur le marché. "J'ai vu comment les gens avaient l'habitude...

“…now having a latrine is not an option but it is a matter of dignity” How do you cut diarrhea by 40%  and have people use the latrine so the water stays safe? Make it about dignity. That’s not the only change people in Ethiopia are seeing with the RESET II project. They’re also seeing improved agricultural production, better government services, and sustainable practices for the future. RESET II in Ethiopia is running from 2016-2020 with $7 million in funding from the European Union. In partnership with Action Against Hunger, it is reaching more than 378,000 people. What have we accomplished?     People are healthier: there has been a 40% reduction in diarrhea.     Water is safer: people are 83% more likely to be using safe water sources, and 44% more likely to be using a latrine.    Agriculture is more sustainable: people are 83% more likely to be using sustainable land and water management practices. They ha...

October 20, 2018 Joyce Driciru, 30, is one of 45 refugee s and host community youths who participated in skills training in Omugo, an extension of Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Northwestern Uganda. Joyce is originally from Arua, Uganda and is a single mother to her three children, ages 10, 8, and 5. Joyce completed a 7-week instruction of bakery and catering at the skills learning center. Joyce started skills training in late August 2018 and finished in October 2018. This project is implemented by CARE and local partner WINEPS, with funding from Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA). Joyce at the skills learning center with fresh sambusas. In early March 2018, Joyce was one of 208 youth selected to attend business skills training and receive mentorship in business plan development. Before Joyce attended the business skills training, she was not working and was staying at home. The father to her children is no longer in the area and does not support them fi...

I ntroducing access to financial services is a decisive factor in eliminating poverty and generating local development. The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) is successful micro-finance model under which savings groups are formed at the community level in order to reduce poverty through the financial and social empowerment of poor and vulnerable people. CARE’s experience around the world in establishing VSLAs in vulnerable communities has demonstrated their success and value beyond generating savings and loans. A VSLA is a self-managed group of 15 – 25 people who save together and take small loans from those savings. A VSLA does not receive any external funding but instead provides its members with a safe place to save their money, so as to access loans and to obtain emergency insurance. The activities of a VSLA run in cycles of about one year, after which the accumulated savings and profits are shared out among the members according to the amount they have saved. During th...