Women’s Empowerment

We believe that the development and long-term sustainability of a community can only be achieved, when both men and women are given equal opportunity to contribute to its economic, political and social structure. It is unfortunate that this concept is far from being reality in many regions of the world since women and girls are disproportionately affected by discrimination and poverty. Men and boys must be included in the process of women’s empowerment considering that men tend to define women as well as keep them within certain boundaries in many cultures.

 
The negative impact of the limitations imposed on women continues to affect the lives of individuals, families and society as a whole. Women account for 70% of the world’s poorest people. Women contribute to two-thirds of the world’s working hours yet the earn 10% of the world’s income and own only 1% of the world’s property. The dreams of many women and girls never manifest due to limited resources, family demands, culture or tradition that forbids them from making decisions about their future.

When women are equipped with adequate resources, they help their families and the entire communities to escape poverty. Empowering women and gender equality is one of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For CAGISC, it is the key to building healthier and wealthier communities worldwide. Through collaborative efforts we expect powerful changes within communities which include: