Education

“Thanks to WISALA, what once felt like an unreachable dream is now becoming a promising reality. Today, I serve as an inspiration to other women in my community, showing that with the right support and knowledge, success is truly possible.” Julia Gakii, GFW Beneficiary, Kenya In Kenya, GFW has created 159 WISALA microbanks that are owned and run by 4,725 Widows. These WISALA beneficiaries support over 23,625 children in their households, providing them with safer, healthier futures. The personal impact of GWF’s WISALA microbanks can be seen in the story of Julia Gakii, a resident of Ukuu Village in Meru and a committed member of the Gaichugi Widows Group. Having been a widow for 15 years, she always dreamed of establishing a steady poultry supply business. Despite her ambition, she lacked the capital, mentorship and training on poultry management and marketing. Her venture remained just a dream until she joined…

In communities the world over, widows are denied land, inheritance, and the right to make decisions about their own lives. Not because the law says so, but because so few know what the law actually says. As part of GFW, over 31,000 widows have completed legal literacy training leading to over 450 widows have challenging their in-laws and communities in courts of law and countless others through community mechanisms. Equipped with this knowledge, thousands of GWF widows protect their homes, their children, and support other women facing similar situations.   In Egypt, following the death of her husband, GWF beneficiary Martha wanted to re-open her husband’s falafel restaurant, but her in-laws refused to let her take over the business, believing it was inappropriate for women to work.   As her and her children’s situation continued to deteriorate, she was introduced to the WISALA program. With the support of group leaders and her…

Nine-year-old Jayceon’s new favorite thing is “learning,” he says. “Improving my reading is important,” he adds. Before participating in Save the Children’s in- school literacy and afterschool programs, Jayceon’s “reading level was unusually low for third grade and he was struggling with basic sight words,” said Betty, the program coordinator. Today, with the one-on-one instruction, guided independent reading practice, and comprehension-building book talks, the third- grader has made great strides at his school in northeast South Carolina. “He has shown so much improvement recently, not only in his academic skills, but in his confidence and eagerness to excel,” said Betty. “He has very good manners, is respectful, kind and modest, and sets a good example for his peers.” Jayceon’s teacher, Celeste, says he participates more in class because the Save the Children tutors have “celebrated his successes and let him know mistakes are learning opportunities.” Jayceon’s newfound confidence is undeniable…

In the heart of Malawi, where dreams grapple with harsh realities, the wish for a stable and secure home resonates deeply, particularly with children of incarcerated parents. The stark reality is that a significant number of The Child’s Journey beneficiaries reside in homes so dilapidated that it’s hard to imagine how they withstand the relentless challenges posed by their environment. Housing assistance is not just a means to provide shelter but is a crucial foundation for a child’s overall well-being and development. The Child’s Journey is dedicated to ensuring that children don’t just live, but thrive in safe and stable homes. Filesi, Rehema and Kenneth are three children whose lives have been positively transformed through the program’s housing support initiative. After a meticulous assessment by dedicated caseworkers, it was clear that the family desperately needed a safer living environment. Embracing a spirit of empowerment and collaboration, the family was encouraged…

The Outright UN Rights and Religion Fellowship is an 8- to 12-month program that supports human rights defenders of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) to harness the New York-based United Nations system to add value to their existing work. The program is designed to support the existing work of activists in the global South and East working to defend people of diverse SOGIESC from the impact of religiously motivated violence and discrimination. The goal of the program is four-fold: 1. Facilitate the use of United Nations spaces for activists of diverse SOGIESC from the global South and East to enhance their networks and to identify new entry points for progressing the protection and promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people’s human rights in their country and/or region. 2. Increase visibility and engagement of human rights defenders of diverse SOGIESC from…

In the heart of Gurage, Ethiopia, Fikir, 28, a dedicated biology teacher and loving mother of two boys, shares her journey battling the devastating effects of trachoma. Trachoma, an easily preventable bacterial eye infection, remains a significant cause of blindness in rural Ethiopia. Fikir’s experience with trachoma began at a young age, but it wasn’t until university that a friend noticed she had trachomatous trichiasis (TT), a condition where eyelashes turn inward as a result of repeat trachoma infections, causing excruciating pain and, if untreated, irreversible vision loss or blindness. Fikir’s story is one of resilience and hope as she underwent surgery for her TT at the Worsherbe Health Center, thanks to the intervention of Orbis-trained health workers. Reflecting on her journey, Fikir shares poignant insights into the challenges she faced and her determination to overcome them. “I have had repeated infections from trachoma since I was very young,” Fikir…