On Saturday, March 26, 2016 The Pangea Network celebrated International Women’s Day in Ndere Village in Siaya County. The occasion was attended by 130 women from cooperatives located in Western Kenya. This was a great day for the participants, as women gathered to share the experiences and journeys they have undertaken over the years. Women from Pangea cooperatives in Western Kenya celebrated the successes they have achieved since partnering with Pangea. Advocates Girls Club (Pangea’s Young Women Leadership Pilot project in Kenya) entertained the guests through song and dance; attending the event provided an opportunity for them to interact and learn from elder women.
The theme for the celebration was Promoting Gender Equality. Our contribution towards this theme has been evident over the years through the changes we witness in the women we work with. Pangea has empowered women with knowledge and skills, enabling them to lead better lives. Education is a proven tool that helps promote equality. Pangea’s Student Sponsorship Program has girls as young as 9 years; we are confident these young girls are a powerful force towards meeting our goal.
Our programs are all inclusive, we do not discriminate young or old, literate or illiterate, all the women and youth are equal before us. During this day, the women were encouraged to be the best they can be. A woman who knows her rights, her worth and capabilities is better equipped to face the outside world. A woman must be self -reliant, a quality that will prepare her to face any situation. Women in our program have reported increased self-esteem and respect from their households, communities and spouses due to the social and economic empowerment we undertake with them. It is these results that make us know that we are on the right path towards reducing the inequality gap. A member of one of the co-operatives said, “thanks to Pangea, I am no longer a beggar.” It takes one girl or one woman to make that change.
