Telling the ECSA Story

My name is Diana. I am 26 years old, and I am a Congolese refugee living in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement. I participated in WoMena Uganda’s Menstrual Health Management (MHM) training in June 2019. I am now a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) on MHM in the settlement. I support adolescent girls and women in the settlement by providing them with information on MHM. I fled conflict in the DRC in 2008, at the age of 14 together with 3 members of my family. We arrived at the settlement and we were given disposable pads when being settled in Kyaka II. Since then, the distribution of necessary items hasn’t been reliable including sanitary pads. Sanitary needs to be provided on a routine basis. The disposable pads used to be distributed every 6 months, but then, it became even less, and it was difficult for girls and women in my community including myself to manage our menstrual periods. I had to use disposable pads and pieces of cloth which were very uncomfortable. When I moved long distanc...

As COVID-19 and its consequences continue to unfold, it is ever more clear that government leadership is the difference between life and death for millions of people around the world. CARE can do a lot—we’re reaching 6.9 million people directly, and more than 126 million people with access to information—but we can’t do it alone. So what are we doing to advocate for government leadership? How is CARE helping governments, from the local level to the highest reaches of global groups, build a better COVID-19 response? We’re advocating in 32 countries to shape a response that will work better for the people we serve. What are we contributing to? Governments are putting gender at the center of their response.  The  European  External Action Service is releasing a declaration on Gender, GBV, and sexual and reproductive health on behalf of the EU. The  UN  has been focusing on gender and GBV since the beginning of the pandemic. The government of  Eg...

In Ghana, they call them “market queens”—women traders who have the connections and influence to organize women, adjust market prices, and influence trading patterns in their area. Faced with government shutdowns in local markets to stop the spread of COVID19, these women found ways to organize social distancing and  keep the markets open so people could eat. By the end of 2020, the World Food Programme predicts that  265 million people will be facing starvation  because of COVID19. CARE’s research shows a similar jump in hunger: in  Bangladesh , 70% of women are worried that they can’t buy nutritious and diverse diets for their children. In  Jordan’s Azraq camp , 50% of people are reporting food shortages—and 90% of women say food is their biggest need right now. For  women, the picture is worse —women already make up 60% of the world’s hungry people, and are the  first to lose their incomes and market access  in a crisis. But as always, wo...

Destroyed homes, dispersed families, disrupted businesses, temporary relocation, seem to be the hot potato in Gatumba these last weeks, as the area was hit again by flooding. The feeling of despair knocks you over once there. You can read it on the face of people who lost their shelters, who saw their normal life running through waters. Concessa, a 32 years old mother of five, has been relocated into a school with her family after the heavy rain destroyed her home.   More than one family has to squeeze in one class, with small babies in their arms. They lament that there are not appropriate toilets. Sometimes, they go in the open air, which puts them at high risk of infections and other illnesses. "I’m so worried about my seven months old baby Keza, especially when it rains. During the night, my children can be wracked by severe cold, as there are no house windows where we are. During the day, I can hardly wash her clothes, and her sisters' and brothers’ clothe...

My name is Muridi Zuriberi from Dadaab - Dagahaley Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, it was normal to see people interacting with each other; shaking hands and the streets were full of people who were involved in a range of business. Now, things have completely changed. Concerns over health mean the status of hygiene and sanitation have improved to some extent. Social and physical distance is now observed, handshaking is no longer a norm for fear of contracting the potentially deadly COVID-19. A lot of people used to go to the markets to conduct business, but due to the virus COVID-19 no non-essential movement is allowed. People are no longer able to go to Masjids, Madrasas, or churches, and celebrations like weddings have stopped for fear of contamination. Before the pandemic we were free to interact with others and conduct our daily activities without fear. As a Muslim, if a person sneezed we used to thank God for their good health, but now snee...

“Mata Masu Dubara [VSLA] members take their social responsibility very seriously towards their community. Let this crisis be a moment that can bind us in solidarity with each other.” –  Mariama Gambo, Niger “We have faced so many challenges that we have overcome. We’re convinced that our collective determination will beat COVID too.”   -Hawa Guindo, Mali Any time I start to feel overwhelmed by COVID 19 and all of its challenges, I take a minute to find out what women in VSLAs are doing to fight back. In true VSLA tradition, they are finding ways to take the smallest investments and use them to change the world. As they have done for  dozens of crises before COVID , women VSLA members are providing solutions that keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe. Supporting these women is an enormous privilege for CARE, and an activity that helps us reach more than 10.3 million VSLA members. VSLAs in  9 countries have already adapted  what they’re do...

‘What makes me feel well in my heart? My goat. . . Every morning when I wake up the first thing that I see is my goat, tied up to the tree. Then I smile. … Someone could come and kill that goat. … But it would not matter. I could get another goat, because I bought the goat myself, with my savings. And now I have the power to solve my problems and take care of my daughter. I never have to be afraid again!’ Minani, Burundi COVID 19 is providing a brutal reminder that stress, anxiety, and psychosocial support are huge parts of the response to pandemics.  Coping with the physical disease isn’t enough . We need to support the whole human and help people manage feelings of isolation, loneliness, and anxiety. As Minani tells us, supporting the whole person may come in unexpected ways. Minani is a powerful reminder that if you can help people find stability and emotional support, they can change the world themselves. They can unlock solutions to solve not only their own problems b...