By Alice Tettey, GNA
Domeabra (C/R), Mar.11, GNA - CARE International Ghana, has scaled up its technical and financial support to poor rural women in its operating districts of the Central Region to help boost their livelihoods and step up their confidence levels.
In the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa (AOB) district alone, 617 women mostly farmers and traders have benefitted from CARE’s immense assistance including training in soap making, baking, book keeping, savings, nursing of tree seedlings as well as soft loans to enhance their economic wellbeing.
These came to light at this year’s International Women’s Day celebration organized by CARE-International Ghana at Domeabra in the AOB district of the Central Region on the theme “creating safe spaces for increased women’s participation at all levels:”
The celebration brought together women representatives from across the country who are beneficiaries of CARE’s empowerment programmes some of whom shared their experiences with the gathering.
Madam Rose Tchwenko, Country Director of Care Ghana indicated that her office’s global mission was to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice, adding that, it would continue to facilitate the creation of networks between women’s platforms for more effective collaboration.
She said African women, particularly the rural poor were very hard working but needed a little push and guidance to propel them out of poverty/
She urged women in the beneficiary communities to join women’s groups for them to benefit from available packages meant for their wellbeing.
The world, she noted would be a better place if women were given more education to enlighten them, more resources to manage their homes and more empowerment in decision making at all levels.
Regional Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD) officer, Ms. Esther Akomaning expressed concern about the low participation of women in governance, particularly at the district Assembly level and advocated for more women appointees to the various Assemblies.
This, when done, will help project the concerns and interests of women for quick action and redress and urged women to avail themselves of all opportunities offered by CARE and other organisations to better their lot.
Ms. Juliana Aidoo, President of Women in Cocoa Communities Development Association (WINCODA) said more than 300 cocoa women farmers in AOB had benefitted from CARE International’s programmes and projects, which had enriched their lives.
She said aside their Cocoa farms, the training received in soap making, bakery, nursing of seedlings among others was generating extra income for members in addition to literacy education to boost their confidence levels and expressed gratitude to CARE for changing their lives for the better.
Ms. Aidoo was unhappy that women were still not part of the decision making process both at the governance and community levels and urged men to include them in all programmes and projects because they have concrete views that could affect positive change in society.
Later in an interview with the GNA, the WINCODA President said she had witnessed tremendous changes in the women under her Association and this was positively impacting on the general wellbeing of their communities.
She appealed to all women farmers in AOB to join the Association for them to access loans and also receive training being made available to them by CARE International.
CARE International is one of the World’s leading humanitarian and development oriented organisations, fighting global poverty and protecting the dignity of people around the world.
GNA
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