“We are unstoppable” – FCA Uganda hosts pop-up market day for women entrepreneurs
Women from Mityana in Uganda have been able to start their own businesses, which has also raised their confidence levels. A Pop-Up Market Day, hosted by FCA, saw over 200 local entrepreneurs, most of them women, come together to present and sell their products and services.
On December 12, 2024, Finn Church Aid (FCA), in partnership with the Women’s Bank, hosted a vibrant pop-up market day at the sports grounds of St. Luke’s Mpirigwa Primary School in Namungo Sub-county, Mityana. The event brought together over 200 Women’s Bank-supported entrepreneurs, their families, and local leaders under the theme: “Women in Production are Pillars of Quality.”
The market showcased the impact of FCA’s initiatives in empowering women entrepreneurs. Participants displayed a wide range of products and services, creating opportunities for networking, market linkages, and community engagement.
“I learned how to tailor, but I didn’t have the knowledge to turn it into a business. FCA’s empowerment training changed everything for me. I now have a thriving business and can support myself and my family,” shared Nanyonjo, a 21-year-old entrepreneur who proudly showcased her tailoring business at the event.
Nanyono learned to turn her tailoring skills into a business.
The pop-up market highlighted the resilience and potential of women entrepreneurs in driving economic growth and improving livelihoods within their communities.
Nankanja Christine, a 74-year-old beneficiary of FCA’s program, shared her heartfelt gratitude for the support she received:
“I relied solely on my husband’s income, but FCA empowered me to start my own business. Now I sell fish alongside my farming, and my family eats a balanced diet. I thank FCA for training us in business skills.”
Nkanja Christine now sells fish to supplement her income.
The Chief guest, Mr. Ivan Kisakye, Senior Commercial Officer at Mityanya Local Government, commended FCA for its impactful work in empowering women in Mityanya. “The work of FCA has greatly impacted the lives of women in Sekanyonyi and Namungo zones. I appreciate the husbands for allowing their wives to participate in these activities.”
The Chief guest, Mr. Ivan Kisakye said the impact on the lives of the women has been great.
Mr. Joseph Katende, Manager of Centenary Bank’s Mityanya Branch, encouraged the women to take advantage of the bank’s “Super Woman” accounts. “These accounts are designed specifically for women, and they offer a range of benefits, including low interest rates and flexible repayment terms.”
Mr. Kisakye also emphasized the importance of adding value to their produce. “Instead of selling maize grains, you can make maize flour and sell it at a higher price. This will not only increase your income but also improve your livelihoods.”
The event was a resounding success, with over 300 entrepreneurs and their dependents in attendance. A total of 180 women and 54 men exhibited their products and services, representing 10 different types of businesses. The event was also attended by 5 local leaders and dignitaries.
The women brought high-quality produce to the pop-up market.
As Sheeba Akampamya, FCA Gender Officer, noted, “In 2021, many women were shy and hesitant to express themselves. Today, they are confident and empowered to take control of their lives and businesses.”
The Pop-Up Market Day event demonstrated the power of collaboration and empowerment in transforming the lives of women entrepreneurs in Mityanya.
The event concluded with a pledge from Joseph Odumna, FCA Livestock Coordinator to increase support for exhibitors and a call to action from, Samuel James Kibanga, FCA Project Manager, to continue empowering women entrepreneurs. “We are committed to empowering women entrepreneurs and promoting sustainable livelihoods in the region.” he added.
As the event came to a close, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of hope and determination. The women entrepreneurs had not only showcased their products and services but had also demonstrated their resilience and determination to succeed. As one of the participants aptly put it, “We are no longer just women, we are entrepreneurs, and we are unstoppable!”
A large proportion of Nepalese people get their daily food from their own backyards. Vegetable gardens, which are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, are the lifeblood of families in remote areas of Nepal.
Text: Elisa Rimaila Photos: Antti Yrjönen
A BROWN CHICKEN that until recently pecked around the yard has lost its head. Its fate? To end up as part of the lunch Sabitri Gurung Ale, 28, and Dhansara Ale, 31, are preparing today. Before its demise, the bird was free to roost and dig in the yard with its fellow birds, living a life of which most of the world’s domestic animals can only dream.
Video shows chicken curry being made in Taranga village in Nepal.
Dhansara’s chicken stew
MAKES ABOUT 6 SERVINGS You will need: a sharp knife for carving the chicken, a large wok or frying pan with high sides. Serve with jasmine rice.
1 chicken or 600–700 grams of chicken meat
2 onions
1 garlic clove
A good piece of ginger
500 g cherry tomatoes or tomatoes, chopped
1 chili pepper (spiciness to taste)
A dash of oil for frying
300–500 ml water
A pinch of salt
2–4 tablespoons ground turmeric
1. Cut the chicken into small pieces.
2. Chop the onions, garlic and ginger and sauté them in oil in a pan.
3. Add the turmeric and stir. Add the chicken and fry until cooked.
4. Add the chili, chopped cherry tomatoes and water. Cook until you have a soft stew.
In rural villages in Nepal, chickens are allowed to live freely in the yards.
IN TARANGA VILLAGE in Surkhet district of western Nepal, chicken is rarely eaten. Birds and goats are slaughtered for food, mainly for celebrations and guests. Meat may also be needed when the fields and vegetable gardens produce a poorer harvest than usual.
Sabitri and Dhansara belong to the same family, as their husbands are brothers. The women’s home is 34 kilometers from the nearest big city, Birendranagar. The journey takes an hour and a half on the dusty, hilly and partly unfinished road, even in a four-wheel drive. Shops and health services are far away, and Sabitri and Dhansara’s families don’t have enough money to spend there in any case.
In the village of Taranga, self-sufficiency is a lifeline for families.
Vegetable curry from one’s own vegetable garden
The ashes are still smoking as Sabitri gathers them into a bowl with her bare hands in the shade of her rustic kitchen.
Soon a new fire is burning in the campfire, and she pours cooking oil into the pan. The ingredients for the vegetable curry are waiting to be added to the pot: plump cabbage, onions, garlic, and potatoes as small as the bottom of the pot. Everything has been picked directly from the family’s own field.
Video shows how to make vegetable curry.
Sabitri’s vegetable curry
MAKES ABOUT 6 SERVINGS You will need: a large wok or saucepan for the curry, a saucepan for heating the milk, a stone base and a grinding stone (a mortar and pestle will do).
1 white cabbage
About 1 kg potatoes
2 onions
A dash of cooking oil for sautéing the vegetables
1 chili pepper (spiciness to your taste)
1 whole garlic clove
400 ml milk
700 ml water (you can add more water if the curry consistency seems too dry)
A pinch of salt
2–4 tbsp ground turmeric
1. Start by heating the milk in a saucepan.
2. Chop the cabbage, cut the potatoes into pieces and slice the onion. Cut the chili into pieces and the garlic cloves into smaller pieces and grind them into a smooth paste, to which you can add a couple of tablespoons of cold water if necessary.
3. Sauté the onion in cooking oil for a while in a wok.
4. Add the turmeric and the chili garlic paste you prepared. Stir.
5. Sauté the potatoes over low heat first, stirring, and add the cabbage when the potatoes start to cook.
6. Add the milk to the mixture and gradually add the water. Simmer gently over low heat. Stir and let it simmer under the lid.
Video shows how to make spice paste.
Minty spice paste
ABOUT 30 GRAMS OF PREPARED PASTE You will need: a stone base and a grinding stone (a mortar will also work).
300 g fresh cherry tomatoes or chopped tomatoes
A good bunch of fresh mint
1 chili pepper (spiciness to taste, but preferably hotter than mild)
A good pinch of salt
About 1 cl water
1. Chop the tomatoes, mint and chili pepper into small pieces.
2. Grind the chopped tomatoes, mint and chili pepper into a smooth paste. Add cold water in small amounts if necessary until the consistency is correct.
3. Finally, add salt to taste. You can also add mint, chili pepper and tomato if you like.
DID YOU KNOW? 70 per cent of Nepalese people earn their living from agriculture. The country’s agricultural area is 2.7 million hectares. Only half of that is irrigated. (Source: cdkn.org)
Climate change is affecting Nepal, making life particularly challenging for families who have traditionally relied on their own fields for not only their livelihood but also their food.
Irrigation of the cropland creates a lot of extra work for Dhansara Ale and Sabitri Gurung Ale when the rains don’t come normally. According to the women, unusual weather events such as drought have plagued the village of Taranga for a decade.
TOMATO STEMS snake along their support canes. Their leaves are pale yellow, and the soil in the potato field cracks with thirst. This year there hasn’t been enough to sell the crop, which means the family has been living on a shoestring.
“Everything depends on water. Now there is none,” says Sabitri.
Climate change is affecting Nepal. As a result, rainfall is more erratic than before. In addition to drought, Nepal has experienced heavier than usual rainfall this year, resulting in devastating floods.
The family carries irrigation water from a river about two hundred meters away, even though there is a water pump in the yard.
The pump was installed as part of a larger regional irrigation project. It was intended to improve water access in remote villages like Taranga by pumping water from the Bheri River using electricity generated by solar power. Taranga has been waiting five years for solar power to be installed.
Raj Ale Magar, 5, climbs on a branch of the mango tree in the yard.
Drinking water carried from the river
The scent of the clear, rushing Bheri River brings to mind a Finnish lake landscape. The family’s children rush to swim. Today, only a few tiddlers are caught in the nets, which the children release back into the river.
Children pour water into a larger plastic barrel in their backyard. The water is used for cooking and drinking.
“Drinking water has to be fetched every four days,” Sabitri says, pouring a drop of water into the spice mixture that she grinds between stones from fresh mint, chili, and small tomatoes.
Fetching water from the Bheri River, which flows a few hundred meters from the home, is the job of the family’s children. From left: Maya (11), Simra (10), and Raj (5).
Maya Ale Magar, 11, is an experienced water carrier for her age. In the village of Taranga in rural Nepal, there is no electricity, and without electricity, water cannot be pumped from the river for domestic use or irrigation.
The Bheri River is a tributary of the Karnal River, Nepal’s longest river that originates in the mountains. The river’s strong flow is being harnessed for electricity generation in rural Nepal.
Carrying water is a child’s job in the village of Taranga, on the banks of the Bheri River. Maya Ale Magar, 11, carries a water barrel to her home on a hill about two hundred meters away.
Climate change is separating families
Drought doesn’t just affect food production and livelihoods. It tears families apart.
“When it doesn’t rain and there are no crops, people go elsewhere to work. Because of the drought, we can’t live together as a family,” says Sabitri.
Dhansara Ale and Sabitri Gurung Ale.
Her husband works in Malaysia, her father-in-law in India.
“We used to live happily together. I haven’t seen my husband for almost a year and I miss him,” Sabitri says.
Sabitri and Dhansara’s families have lived in the region for decades. In recent years, the families have been learning about new farming methods that help them adapt to climate change in a project funded by the Finnish and German Foreign Ministries and the European Union. The project is implemented by FCA together with the German development agency GiZ.
“We now have the knowledge and skills we need. But that’s of no use if we lack water,” says Sabitri.
Outside the courtyard cattle nestle under trees, resting in the midday heat. For Hindus and Buddhists, cattle are sacred animals that are not slaughtered for food. Their milk is still good for sweet, spicy tea. Sabitri also pours thick, fatty milk into the cauldron of onions, cabbage, and cooked potatoes. The cauldron smells of turmeric, chili, and garlic. Lunch is soon ready.
Time to eat! Birds and goats are slaughtered for food in rural Nepal, mainly for guests and celebrations. In the village of Taranga, self-sufficiency is a lifeline for families.
Ropani found hope and education amid crisis through university scholarship
Ropani was a refugee from South Sudan when she arrived in Uganda. Now she’s studying for a bacherlor’s degree in accounting and finance.
Ropani Diana Peace was forced to flee her home country of South Sudan. It interrupted her education, but thanks to a scholarship initiative she was able to resume. Now at 20, she’s graduating from university and hopes to be able to create a stable life for her and her three-year-old son.
WHEN THE 2016 crisis swept through South Sudan, tearing families apart, Ropani’s family sought refuge in Uganda. They settled in the challenging landscape of Bidibidi settlement.
Her connection with Uganda was not new, she often used to take the night bus from Yei in South Sudan to Uganda, drawn by the belief that Uganda offered the best education. Her search for knowledge was a family legacy, fueled by her mother’s determination to provide the best opportunities for her eldest daughter.
When conflict broke out in South Sudan, Ropani found herself in Uganda once more, but this time not as a student traveling for education but as a refugee seeking safety. Bidibidi refugee settlement became her new home, a place where survival took precedence over dreams.
“In the confusion of moving to a new place,” Ropani says, “I had to rebuild my life and take care of my two sisters and newborn son.” But then, she explains, “I heard about a scholarship from the National Association of Partners.”
“At first, I wasn’t sure about applying because I had just become a mom,” Ropani admits. “But I decided to give it a try.”
Ropani received a university scholarship facilitated by Finn Church Aid and UNHCR and generously funded by the National Association of Partners (NAPS).
Ropani visiting the FCA Acess Center office in Muyenga
“I got the scholarship, and it helped me with almost all of my expenses – tuition, a place to stay, a laptop, internet, and even some extra money for living”, she adds.
Having gotten a second chance, Ropani embarked on her academic journey at Uganda Christian University – Mukono, taking a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance
“The routine of sharing my end-of-semester results with UNHCR and FCA representatives became a ritual of gratitude and celebration,” she recalls. “Their praise and encouragement served as a constant reminder that my resilience in education were not in vain.” she adds.
As Ropani prepares to graduate, she carries with her the dreams of a stable life for her three-year-old son. Her motivation transcends personal achievements; it extends to the hope that education can break the chains of pain and shape a brighter future.
“The laptops, tuition, money, and other support from the National Association of Partners have not only helped me but have also shown others like me that there’s hope for a better life, even when we’re far from home.”
Economic independence central in preventing gender-based violence in Myanmar
In the crisis-affected regions of Kachin State, women and girls experiencing or at risk of gender-based violence were helped by a multi-track project, funded by UN Women, that provided both support services and skills training.
IN MYANMAR, years of conflict, instability and economic insecurity have exacerbated the risk to vulnerable groups. Women and girls are particularly at risk from violence either within the home or during forced movements to safety.
Together with the Pyoe Development Organization, FCA worked with gender-based violence (GBV) prevention groups and UNFPA to identify and refer those at risk. Women and girls received counselling and awareness sessions on GBV in a supportive group setting within the community.
Funded by UN Women, the project also focused on enhancing livelihood opportunities. When women are economic independent, vulnerability to GBV is often mitigated. Women could take technical training sessions, including livestock-raising and organic farming.
Comprehensive Support for Women and Girls
The project spanned three townships and nine villages, including three resettlement areas. Perhaps the most impactful outcome was the initiative facilitated the formation of community-based GBV groups, empowering local volunteers to provide vital support and referral services to survivors. Additionally, GBV awareness trainings reached over 456 women, supported by the distribution of 800 information materials, including pocket guides and referral pathways.
A participant at GBV awareness training in Nyaung Kone, Mogaung.
A total of 90 women benefited from training sessions, and small top-up grants were provided to nine women’s groups, enabling them to engage in income-generating activities. This not only fostered economic independence but also contributed to household and community resilience during these insecure times.
Daw Dau Tsai trained in animal care
Among the success stories is that of Daw Dau Tsai, a 43-year-old mother of six, who became a respected animal care worker after attending training sessions provided by FCA. The comprehensive training covered essential aspects such as poultry production, housing and raising methods, vaccination and disease treatment, nutrition and other general practices.
With these newfound skills, Daw Dau Tsai quickly became a trusted animal helper, achieving remarkable success with her castrations and hernial operations on fifteen pigs. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “At first, I had to build trust with my neighbors for home call services. I practiced on my own pigs to prove my skills and now gain their trust.”
Daw Dau Tsai (centre right) took animal care training sessions provided by Pyoe and FCA
Earning 180,000 MMK (around 75 EUR) per month from her services, Daw Dau Tsai has turned animal care into a thriving profession while also raising pigs to support her family. “Before the training, I had to seek casual work in nearby villages, but now I can stay home, treat animals, and raise pigs to cover our family expenses,” she shared.
With a desire to learn more about veterinary medicine, Daw Dau Tsai dreams of expanding her services to nearby villages, further increasing her income and impact. Her newfound skills have allowed her to earn a stable income while contributing to her community.
Women’s group turned a profit
The project also conducted assessments of existing women’s groups to identify areas for capacity building and provided support to strengthen these groups. Daw Nyo Nyo Thi, Daw Seng Ra, and Daw Khin Thi formed the Ngwe La Yaung Womens Group and successfully started a business venture, thanks to financial support from FCA. They were all experienced in business, but had struggled individually as entrepreneurs, due to difficulty finding funding.
Daw Nyo Nyo Thi, Daw Seng Ra, and Daw Khin Thi formed the Ngwe La Yaung Womens Group and successfully started a business venture, thanks to financial support from FCA.
In January 2024, the trio submitted a proposal to the Pyoe Development Organization. Their initiative was selected, and they received 1,500,000 MMK (around 650 EUR) as a start-up fund, with an additional 1,750,000 MMK (around 770 EUR) from the project in March 2024. With the funds, they purchased onions and garlic from wholesale shops, selling door-to-door and to local shops. Their diligent efforts paid off, and they made a total profit of 2,380,000 MMK (around 1015 EUR), with each member earning 260,000 MMK (around 110 EUR) from the net profit.
Members of the Ngwe La Yaung Womens Group applied for FCA funding for a business selling onions and garlic
Their success has inspired other women in the village to pursue similar ventures, and family members have been supportive. One member proudly shared, “Now we can contribute to a children’s nutrition event as a group donation in the village. We also plan to support vulnerable people, such as those who cannot afford family funerals or childbirth expenses in the village.”
The group emphasised, “This kind of support means a lot to us and can significantly improve our daily lives. Working together as a team, we can overcome individual challenges and build a more sustainable business that allows us to save and invest for the future.”
The project faced significant challenges, such as limited water availability and budget increase due to inflation impacting costs. However, through community engagement, costs were able to be reduced in some areas. By empowering these communities, the initiative is contributing to a more resilient and stable future for the crisis-affected areas of Kachin State.
Let’s talk about menstruation – A simple way to eradicate period-related absences in a Ugandan school
Three out of four girls in Uganda miss school because they are menstruating. At Bukere secondary school, the problem has been solved by raising awareness about menstruation among both girls and boys.
Text: Elisa Rimaila Photos: Antti Yrjönen
THE EXCITEMENT of over a hundred teenagers combined with the glow of an equatorial afternoon have stirred up the air in the classroom so thick you could almost bottle it. The youngsters sit cramped in their desks, squealingas teacher Jolly Kyogabirwe begins a lesson on reproductive health and sexual rights at Bukere secondary school in central Uganda.
Now let’s talk about menstruation! The rumble slowly calms down..
“Menstruation is not an illness that should make you stay home and out of school,” says Kyogabirwe.
In the front row, a few girls look at each other. In the back, the boys lean forward with interest, letting the teacher continue.
“If your period starts during the school day, the school has disposable sanitary towels for emergencies. We will help you so that you can stay in school despite your period,” teacher Kyogabirwe addresses the girls.
IN REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS in particular, menstrual absenteeism is a real threat to education. Many girls are absent from school for several days each month.
Bukere secondary school is fighting absenteeism by organising menstrual hygiene lessons and distributing a bag of sanitary towels, soap and underwear to girls.
Teacher Kyogabirwe goes through the signs that the body gives before menstruation starts and reminds you to be aware of your menstrual cycle.
The boys in the back seat are keen to ask questions.
“Why are the pads different sizes – and that one so huge?”
“How long can you use one sanitary towel?”
Best Kemigisa, 20, a student in Bukere secondary school, shows other students the products she received as part of Finn Church Aid’s menstrual hygiene package.
Reusable pads save money
At the end of the lesson, girls and boys can talk freely.
“It’s interesting to know how things work. Some of us boys didn’t know anything before,” says Emmanuel Nsengimana, 20.
“It’s good to have a conversation together,” continues Best Kemigisa, 20.
The lesson makes Manzi Biraguma, 16, wonder whether it would be possible to make a business out of making reusable pads. The boy’s comment makes the girls laugh, but it’s actually not a bad idea, confirms Sonia Kyasiimire, an education specialist at the Finn Church Aid (FCA) office in Uganda.
“If we could get more funding, we could organise a workshop to learn how to make reusable pads for sale. The training could be combined with vocational studies, for example,” says Kyasiimire.
The life cycle of a single reusable pad is about a year, making them a better environmental alternative to disposable shelters. If girls made their own pads, they could also save money.
A five-piece package of reusable pads costs 25,000 Ugandan shillings (six euros), while disposable pads cost girls between 5.000 and 10,000 shillings (about 1.5-2.5 euros) per month.
In the refugee area, it is a significant amount. The cost of one package of disposable sanitary towels is equivalent to about half of the cash grant given to qualifying families by UNHCR each month.
“Many parents have not been educated about menstrual hygiene. It can be difficult for them to understand why girls should be provided with separate menstrual protection,” says Manzi Biraguma.
The girls nod. Lack of knowledge can lead to discrimination and exclusion from everyday activities such as socially important religious gatherings.
“There are communities here that may believe that girls are ‘unclean’ during menstruation or that they are somehow harmful,” says Patience Kabarokore, 17.
Manzi Biraguma and Emmanuel Nsengimana are happy boys have been granted an access to their school’s menstrual hygiene classes.
Emmanuel Nsengimana points out that girls themselves can avoid being stigmatised by taking the management of their menstrual hygiene into their own hands.
“Boys in particular may want to sit somewhere other than next to a girl who doesn’t have proper protection. They might be embarrassed. I’m serious, there are boys like that!”
The comment leads to a debate between girls and boys about whether menstruation is something to be ashamed of.
“Menses are part of normal life. The fact that you are menstruating just means that you are normal,” says Best Kemigisa.
“Sometimes it is difficult to participate in the joy and activities of others during menstruation. Especially if you’re not feeling well. Then I feel ashamed,” defends Fatumah Kenganzi, 17.
She says that as a Muslim she is not allowed to pray or fast during her periods.
“It’s quite understandable. Even a prayer mat can get dirty,” she reflects.
In Ugandan refugee settlements menstrual hygiene may be challenging to maintain due to lack of money. Menstrual hygiene isn’t a priority for families living on less than two dollars a day. This leads to girls staying home when they’re having their period.
Lack of sanitary towels robs girls their education
In Bukere, every young person knows someone who has missed school because of their period. And no wonder, because according to Uganda’s Ministry of Education 2020 data, three out of four school-age girls miss 2-3 school days a month due to menstruation. According to the same statistics, up to 65% of girls and women in Uganda feel unable to afford adequate menstrual protection.
“Girls would certainly like to use disposable pads, but they are not very accessible here,” says Sonia Kyasiimire, referring to the high price of sanitary towels.
Fatumah Kenganzi would like to use disposable pads if she had the money to buy them.
FCA’s menstrual hygiene work involves more than just handing out sanitary pads and teaching lessons. At Bukere secondary school, changing rooms and water points have been built next to the toilets to make girls’ daily lives easier. According to 2020 statistics, only 60% of girls and women reported that they had regular access to water for washing and safe, sheltered places for changing.
Fatumah Kenganzi is the only girl who would prefer to use disposable protection if she had the choice. But her life with reusable pads is made easier by the fact that she lives in a school dormitory.
“The school has water for washing and shelter. At the primary school I went to, if there was an accident, you had to go home in the middle of the day to wash.”
The situations where girls are most nervous are when their periods start unexpectedly in the middle of the school day. The school day can become embarrassing, especially because of boys’ behaviour.
“They mock it, calling it a ‘blood skirt’, and everyone hears about it,” says Patience Kabarokore.
Best Kemigisa, Fatumah Kenganzi and Patience Kabarokore have had their share of listening to boys mocking girls when they find out they have their period. Sometimes the menstruation begins in the middle of a school day leading the girls leave home and skipping classes.
The comment makes the boys look at each other.
“I think we do it out of ignorance. It boggles the mind to even think about where the blood comes. We boys are sensitive,” Biraguma defends himself.
“Girls can talk openly about these issues. Come and tell us if you need help. We will help,” Nsengimana continues.
The last sentence makes all three girls burst out laughing. Patience Kabakore, however, is grateful that the boys are now getting information through school.
“I think boys are genuinely interested in these things. Now they have the opportunity to participate and learn. Until a few years ago, they were expelled from class when we started talking about menstruation.”
How will boys use the information they learn about menstrual hygiene at school?
“If I had a wife and she needed help with washing the pads, of course I’d help,” says Biraguma, after a moment’s thought.
The girls don’t believe him.
“No way! You don’t even know what menstrual blood smells like,” challenges Fatumah Kenganzi.
“Yes. I’m at least going to offer to help my wife when I have one some day. My wife is my responsibility. Of course I would,” Biraguma promises.
Menstrual Hygiene Day is an annual awareness day on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management at a global level.
‘At night I was afraid someone would come’: In Nepal, girls are still banished to so-called ‘menstruation huts’.
FCA works for gender equality and menstrual hygiene rights, so that girls and women have the opportunity to take control of their own lives.
Text: Elisa Rimaila Photos: Antti Yrjönen
TO GET INTO THE HUT, you have to take a big leap up. That’s good, because otherwise snakes and various ground-dwelling insects would find it easier to surprise those sleeping in thisdoorless shack. This is where Nepali Laxmi Sarki, 27, has spent five nights every month for the past almost nine years – ever since her period began.
“At night I was afraid that someone would come. We live on the edge of a national park and there are also a lot of snakes there,” says Sarki.
There are real risks to sleeping alone outside, isolated from others. In Nepal, dozens of deaths have been linked to the practice of Chhaupadi over the last decade. Chhaupadi is the isolation of girls and women in so-called “menstruation huts” during their period and is still practised in some communities, despite being illegal in Nepal since 2005. The deaths are most often caused by bites from poisonous snakes or by carbon monoxide gas from wood stoves that provide heat. Of course, girls and women in isolation are also vulnerable to sexual violence.
The practice of isolation during menstruation stems from the long-held idea that girls and women are unclean during their periods. Therefore, they should ‘protect’ other family members from illness and bad luck by sleeping in isolation for five nights from the day their period begins.
“I feel bad that this has to be done, but all the women here are in the same situation,” says Sarki.
Laxmi Sarki, 27, lives in Kanchanpur in south-western Nepal, in a community where women have to isolate themselves from the rest of the family in a separate menstrual house during menstruation. This isolation is due to beliefs associated with menstruation that women are unclean and can bring bad luck to their families.
Women’s household chores change during the menstrual cycle. For example, they are not allowed to fetch water for their family, or even to water their vegetable garden or take part in cooking. The severity of restrictions and isolation varies from place to place.
In Sarki’s Dalit community in Kanchanpur district, FCA has been working with its local partner organisation NEEDS Nepal to support women’s equality and livelihood opportunities. The work targets particularly vulnerable women.
In addition to training on economics and business, FCA’s work in Nepal has also included sections on gender equality, such as taboos related to the menstrual cycle and the harmful Chhaupadi tradition. This led to the construction of women’s safe houses in communities where women can come during their periods, according to Srijana Joshi, a local expert at NEEDS Nepal.
“It is a testament to the strength of the tradition that it has not been completely abandoned here, even though some of these women have been educated. Equality is still a long way off, but communities have identified harmful practices and this is a first step,” says Joshi.
Last year, Laxmi Sarki gave up her old hut, built of wood, tarpaulin and clay next to the cattle shed. In its place, his family has now built a small brick-built house with a real bed, a lockable door, electric lights and a fan.
“Now I feel safer,” she says.
Preeti Kumari Das, 15, learned to sew reusable pads under Poonam Mahara. The girls have learnt to use old fabrics to make durable garments, so there are no costs involved in making them.
ABOUT 800 KILOMETERS east of Kanchanpur, twenty teenage girls are preparing to learn more about menstrual hygiene. This time, their teacher, community activist Poonam Mahara, is helping them finish sewing their own sanitary napkins.
“We use old saris as materials, fabric that you can find in everyone’s home,” says Mahara.
“I got the idea for the material and the design after watching a video on YouTube. I started thinking that this is a soft fabric and easy to wash and dry in the sun,” she continues.
“To make reusable sanitary pads, we use old saris as materials, fabric that you can find in everyone’s home,” says Poonam Mahara.
There is plenty of sunshine in Nepal’s southern Terai lowlands. At the time of the meeting, the temperature has climbed to 40 degrees Celsius, but fortunately it is possible to hold the lessons in the recess of a building that provides shade from the harshest sun. Carpets of dried grasses act as seating, as well as cooling the air.
Today’s group consists of 20 girls, aged between 10 and 19. Poonam Mahara has picked most of them up from their homes after talking to their parents. In this community, the girls’ lives are very limited and it is by no means a given that they will even get to school.
“Sometimes, especially at the beginning, it was difficult to get permission from their parents, but now I am already known in the community. When I started, I didn’t know many people,” says Poonam Mahara.
Poonam Mahara wanted to make a difference in her community. “I now know more about things myself and I know that menstruation is a perfectly normal thing. I want to teach this knowledge to others. It is important for me that girls know their rights as early as possible and that they are not married too early and are allowed to go to school.”
“In this culture, people tend to get married very young, and in these classes we also talk about why it’s important to take care of yourself and do things for yourself, not just focus on your responsibilities.”
Those responsibilities can start at a very young age, as girls move into their spouse’s home when they get married. Housework usually ends up being the responsibility of the young daughter-in-law under the supervision of her parents-in-law. The legal age for marriage in Nepal is now 20, but often girls, especially from the poorest families, are married or given in marriage by their parents at a much younger age, as young as 13 or 14.
Grita Mahara, 17, says she used to be very shy. “I feel I have changed a lot since I joined this group, got information and got to know others. Now I have the courage to speak up for myself and I want a profession for myself.”
“At that age, the body is still changing a lot and there are other challenges associated with growing up. One of them is menstruation and especially not being able to afford menstrual pads,” says Poonam Mahara.
The project, supported by the FCA, started in December 2022 in a community in the Dhanusa region, based on the observation that many girls from marginalised groups lacked basic information about their own body functions and rights, and that child marriage was common.
“Menstruation is a taboo subject and the stigma around it makes it difficult to talk about menstruation to anyone, even within your own family. Menstruation is not considered a normal thing and that’s bad for everyone,” says Poonam Mahara.
When it comes to menstruation, it is strictly between women. Girls usually can’t even talk about it with their own brothers or fathers.
“Even if these girls get to school, they don’t get this kind of information about menstruation and so on at school. Teachers are usually men,” says Poonam Mahara.
Kajol Mahara, 17, listening next to her, nods cautiously. She has learned to sew herself a proper sanitary napkin in FCA-supported training courses. Her family is poor and she cannot afford to buy her daughter menstrual pads. Many girls and women use some kind of folded piece of cloth to protect themselves.
“In the past, I had to miss school during my period because I didn’t have proper protection. Now I don’t have to,” says Kajol Mahara.
Poonam Mahara herself comes from the same community. She studied in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It was only after her marriage and return to her home community that she realised how many problems there were in the lives of girls and women. That’s why she wanted to help.
“I’ve also received a huge amount of support from my mother-in-law. She has encouraged me along the way and is like a mother to me. I love her so much,” Poonam Mahara rejoices.
Mother-in-law Sarabati Mahara appears at the same moment. She says that she herself has learned a lot about menstruation and women’s rights from her daughter-in-law.
“Our family are poor farmers, but my daughter-in-law is educated. It’s great that she can do this kind of work and doesn’t just have to stay at home. Because she is working, my grandchildren will also get a good education.”
Harvesting equality in Nepal: FCA & partners talk climate resilient development at CSW
At the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, FCA and Nepali partners discussed the effects of climate change on women while sharing practical solutions.
Gender agenda for women in Nepal
CLIMATE CHANGE and environmental protection form a strategically important gender agenda for women in Nepal now and in the future.
The FCA event took place during the UN’s annual Commission on the Status of Women.
On March 12, 2024, experts gathered in New York during the UN’s event on gender quality. FCA hosted an event, co-sponsored by Finland that focused on how to mitigate the effects of climate change on Nepali women farmers, while remaining gender responsive and supporting economic empowerment.
The event drew on experiences from the GRAPE project in Nepal, a climate-resilient agriculture programme that FCA works on with main implementer, German development agency, GiZ.
Laura Rissanen, the State Secretary to the Minister of Social Security of Finland, opened the session by describing FCA’s work with Nepalis and how grassroots approaches and inclusion of women and girls is when climate action can make an impactful difference.
Ms Rissanen also highlighted that 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Finland/Nepal diplomatic relations.
State Secretary Laura Rissanen opened the event
Shikha Shrestha from VSO Nepal emphasised that time and again, women’s voices are not heard.
Shikha Shrestha underlined that women must be involved in disaster relief.
“Women are always being engaged in agriculture & our knowledge & expertise is not considered. We need to consider holistic approach & have voices of women making the plan for disaster relief.”
The vivid panel discussion touched on the topic from various entry points with examples from mountainous indigenous women realities on the ground as well as experiences shared by women from marginalized communities, complemented by findings from recent research on how actually climate financing has remain very thin.
Yasso Kanti from the National Indigenous Women Forum narrated from firsthand experience the challenges and triumphs faced by indigenous women in their pursuit of equitable participation in agricultural endeavors amidst the ever-evolving climate landscape.
“There needs to be concrete recognition & action to putting indigenous peoples contributions at the forefront because indigenous people, especially women and girls, are mostly affected by land and climate induced conflicts,” she said.
Et ole hyväksynyt markkinoinnin evästeitä nähdäksesi videon.
Watch how climate change is threatening women farmers in Nepal
The panel also included DanChurchAid‘s Senior Advisor in Gender Equality, Kira Ugaz-Simonsen and youth climate activist, Tashi Lhazom, who joined remotely.
“Climate Change impacts everyone, but not equally. Key is the decentralization in power & resources. In most cases, it’s not an issue for women to speak out but for women to be listened to,” she contributed via remote link.
Youth climate activist, Tashi Lhazom joined the panel remotely
Targeted actions to mitigate the effects of climate change on women and gender equality remains extremely low whist there are growing needs to finance mitigation measures to women farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs on climate change effects and prevention of further damage.
While the challenges of the Nepali women remain complex with deeply rooted gender stereotypes and practices, the discussion proved commitment and true trust for the better future as long as women’s agricultural role and potential is truly recognised and nurtured.
Panel biographies
Laura Rissanen
Laura Rissanen has served as State Secretary to the Minister of Social Security since June 2023 and is responsible for EU and international affairs that fall within the Minister’s area of responsibility, and matters related to gender equality, occupational safety and health, and farm relief services. Rissanen has over twenty years of experience in policymaking, ranging from municipality decision-making to the European Parliament.
Tashi Lhazom
Tashi Lhazom is a prominent climate activist working at the intersection of climate action, gender equality, indigenous rights, and political literacy. She has spoken at grassroots, national, and global platforms. Tashi is a Co-Founder of two civil society initiatives, is a researcher and filmmaker, using storytelling to bring awareness to critical climate challenges in the Himalayan region.
Yasso Kanti Bhattachan
Yasso Kanti Bhattachan presently holds the position of Vice-Chairperson at the National Indigenous Women Forum. She is an esteemed figure known for her pivotal role as an advocate, researcher and leader for Indigenous Women’s Rights. Yasso is one of the founding members and advisor at the National Indigenous Women Federation and a Regional Council member of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), and the South Asia Focal Person of the Asian Indigenous Women’s Network (AIWN).
Kira-Ugaz Simonsen
Kira Ugaz-Simonsen is a Senior Advisor in Gender Equality at DanChurchAid, based in the head office in Copenhagen. Kira has more than 10 years’ experience working with gender responsiveness in development programming, both as a gender specialist and independent consultant, with experience from a broad range of countries. She has previously lived and worked with gender issues in Mozambique for close to five years and have prior to that, worked for UN Women in Bolivia.
Shikha Shrestha
Shikha Shrestha has more than 25 years of experiences on gender equality and social inclusion, feminist leadership, and good governance. Currently working with VSO Nepal as Country Project Implementation Lead, she completed her masters in forest ecology that helps her to understand agenda of climate change both from gender and ecological perspectives. Shikha has been actively engaged in promoting gender agenda in climate change actions and systematizing efforts of harmful social norms transformation for promoting gender equality and empowerment of marginalized communities.
International Women’s Day – Dora Kaiza is FCA Uganda’s first female driver
On International Women’s Day 2024, we focus on investing in women. The following is a guest contribution from Dora Kaiza, one of FCA’s professional drivers in Uganda and the first woman to hold that position.
‘My name is Dora Kaiza. I am 34 years old and I am so proud to be a professional driver. For many years this was regarded as a male-dominated profession. My life before Finn Church Aid was a journey full of challenges. As a single mother raising three boys, I faced the task of providing for my family and driving is all I depended on. Even with my passion for driving and years of experience, the opportunities seemed scarce, and I would find myself being undervalued.
‘A lady can’t drive’
At the transport company where I worked, many said, “a lady can’t drive,” but I refused to let their insecurities lower my potential.
In 2022, after the Covid lockdown, I received a dream come true opportunity to join Finn Church Aid as a driver. It was a chance to prove myself in a new environment, a chance to support my family and also to challenge those saying that women can never make it doing male jobs. I will never forget the feelings on my first day, driving alongside the male drivers. But with each mile, my confidence grew, and I realized that I belonged here. I knew this was more than just a job—it was a calling.
Dora makes some engine checks before her long drive.
Every kilometre is a sign of my determination
The road ahead had its challenges. As the first female driver in FCA’s history in Uganda, I faced resistance from some road users. Yet, with support from FCA colleagues and my determination to succeed, I refused to let people hold me back. Every kilometre driven was a sign of my determination to break down barriers.
FCA’s trust in me was both humbling and empowering. By entrusting me with their vehicle and placing their faith in my abilities, they not only gave me a job but also proved my worth as a woman in a male-dominated profession. Each journey taken was a sign that gender should never be a barrier to an opportunity.
Over the years, I have faced challenges—from driving on bad roads to confronting male bullies who try to push me off the road. Yet, with each challenge, I came out stronger and more determined to prove that women belong behind the wheel and at the forefront of change.
Driving forward
When I reflect on my journey with Finn Church Aid, I feel so proud. They have provided me with a platform to express my passion while supporting my family. FCA has also empowered me to be a symbol for change in my community.
As I continue to drive forward, I am reminded of the many women who have not yet to reached their full potential. My hope is that my story will inspire other women to dream big, ignore stereotypes, and take on every opportunity that comes their way. Together, we can promote gender equality and create a brighter future for all.’
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Invest in women: accelerate progress.
At FCA gender inclusion and equality are not just ideals, they are realities worth fighting for. We work every day alongside our sister organisation, Women’s Bank towards a world where women have the financial independence and power to make their own choices.
Women-led businesses are bringing change in Myanmar
In Myanmar’s Kayin State, FCA and Women’s Bank have supported women in 20 villages to establish and develop businesses to generate extra income.
NESTLED IN the Kayah-Karen Mountains range are the Kayin Highlands. The area has been plagued by armed conflicts between the Myanmar Military and the Karen National Union, People’s Defence Forces, resulting in very limited development opportunities. The region has been classified as a ‘black zone’ by successive governments.
Women in the area were often confined to the traditional living style of their village, struggling to make ends meet with small daily incomes. With some working as day laborers and others focusing on their existing farm businesses, financial stability proved hard to pin down. Although they could afford daily meals, they needed money to save up.
As the economic crisis worsened, the prices of food and gasoline skyrocketed and their income and investments also fluctuated dramatically. Additionally, products they farmed could not be exported in large quantities.
As part of the project, the FCA provided financial assistance to 80 women to help them establish and develop income-generating activities.
Women-led businesses are bringing change
A project aimed at empowering women in the region co-implemented by FCA and led by the Kaw Lah Foundation, brought about real change.
As part of the project, FCA provided financial assistance to 80 women, granting each of them 500,000 Myanmar Kyat (188 Euro) to help them establish and develop income-generating activities. Women participated either as members of the Women Empowerment Committee or as part of a Women-Led Cooperative.
Women participate either as members of the Women Empowerment Committee or as part of the Women-Led Cooperative.
Starting and running businesses in politically sensitive and fragile areas can be challenging, so FCA provided organised comprehensive business entrepreneurship training sessions to cover various aspects of business management, including financial planning and management, branding, and marketing strategies (including online platforms).
After the business was established, we continue to provide coaching and support. The project team regularly visit the businesswomen, offering guidance and addressing concerns.
The range of businesses established by these women included grocery stores, food stalls, seasonal crop trading, bakeries, motorbike workshops, and pharmacies. Within a year, 35 out of the 80 women (43%) began earning profits from their activities. 11 of them earned profits exceeding 10 million Myanmar Kyat (376 Euro) and one woman even generated over 50 million Myanmar Kyat (1880 Euro).
From entrepreneuship to financial stability
Life dealt 59-year-old Naw Aye Thar a devastating blow with the untimely death of her husband in 1997, leaving her as the sole provider for her three sons. To her support her children, she took on various odd jobs, earning a modest income of 3,000 Myanmar kyats per day.
But life changed for the better when she assumed the role of secretary for the Women Empowerment Committee in her village. It was during this time that FCA launched its project, aiming to promote women’s entrepreneurship and business ventures in Maing Lun. Recognising her potential, she was selected as one of the women entrepreneurs and provided with a business capital of 500,000 kyats.
The project team regularly visit the businesswomen, offering guidance and addressing concerns.
With the newfound capital, she started a grocery store. Following her project proposal, she sourced products from wholesalers and began selling them retail. This venture proved to be a sustainable source of income to meet her family’s needs.
“Previously, I was very tired because I was buying goods by walking to Leik Tho Town with a bamboo-made backpack, and I couldn’t a motorcycle due to the high rental cost. My business became more convenient when I owned a motorcycle with my savings. In this time of political instability, the economic crisis worsened, food and gasoline prices skyrocketed, but mercifully I don’t have to worry about the daily meal anymore.”
Journey to business success
Naw Rutha, a 46-year-old widow from Kyaung Kone Lan Khwel village. She grew up selling groceries with her mother in a small food and local product trading business. However, despite having a wealth of experience in the industry, Naw Rutha struggled with keeping records of her business operations which made it impossible to ascertain the profit and loss of her enterprise accurately.
In June 2022, she successfully obtained a grant of 500,000 Myanmar Kyats, which she used to expand and repair her shop. The support from the project not only helped her become more familiar with business practices but also increased her profits.
“Thanks to the project, I received training on business market system development and basic financial management. The project also recognised my hard work and provided additional support funds (1,000,000 kyats) for my business.”
Naw Rutha expanded her store and started producing and selling local products under the brand name “Rutha.”
With this financial boost, she purchased refrigerators to store the goods and added value to local crops such as coffee, turmeric, honey, and tea. She further expanded her store and started producing and selling local products under the brand name “Rutha.”
The increased income not only benefited her family but also allowed her to financially support her parents and siblings.
“I can now support my son’s education without worrying about school fees. I can also afford donations for religious purposes and cover medical expenses for the sick. Moreover, I have been able to save money every month and even treated myself to a gold necklace.”
Displacement didn’t stop this businesswoman
40-year-old Naw Blu Paw from Bo Te Kone Village started as a casual worker in 2005, averaging around 2 weeks of work per month. In 2008, she began selling Burmese traditional snacks door-to-door in her village.
When the project was introduced in her village, Naw Blu Paw participated in business performance training courses and attended monthly meetings. Her dedication paid off when she was chosen as the small to medium enterprise (SME) woman representative of the village on June 20, 2022.
Unfortunately, she and her husband were displaced due to the conflict in the area. But the situation couldn’t discourage her and she began selling kitchen products as a mobile seller to other villagers who had also fled to the jungle. Despite the difficulties, she traveled to Taungoo – around 200 kilometres from Yangon – to purchase groceries and continued her work.
Naw Blu Paw’s dedication paid off when she was chosen as the small to medium enterprise (SME) woman representative of the village on June 20, 2022.
With this determination, she was selected as a recipient of an additional 1,000,000 kyats from the project’s top-up grant for women. This capital injection allowed her to expand her current business and she ran the fish paste and dried fish businesses. She also learned how to maintain cash accounts and create monthly income and expenditure statements, skills she previously lacked.
The continuous operation of her business greatly aided her family while occasionally providing financial support to her daughter, who lives at the Thailand border, for school. Furthermore, she was able to send three of her children to school at a church-based institution, contributing to the welfare of the community.
“Through this business, I have gained a deeper understanding of my strengths and weaknesses which improved my business operations. Additionally, I seek guidance from others experienced in fish paste production to expand my business further. Despite the challenges of travel during these difficult times, I am grateful that my business continues to thrive, bringing greater happiness to my family by relieving concerns.”
Not feeling alone is crucial for survivors of gender-based violence
Finn Church Aid (FCA) works against gender-based violence in the Central African Republic by connecting survivors to healthcare services and psychosocial counselling.
WHEN ZITA KOUALET started her work as FCA’s psychosocial counsellor in Baboua, the hardest part was getting survivors of gender-based violence to consider sharing what they had gone through.
Koualet and her colleagues provide the first response in cases of rape, sexual harassment, or domestic violence in Baboua, Central African Republic. The project has been running for three years with UN Refugee Agency UNHCR funding. After careful awareness-raising in the community, people know how to approach Koualet in cases of violence or abuse.
“We pay for any transport or medical needs and provide counselling that focuses on the mental well-being. We can also help people file cases when they have been wronged”, she says.
“After that, the survivors are offered counselling. The more they feel they are supported, the more comfortable they are opening up about their experience and feel how it helps them move forward.”
Koulaet and her team also record the cases from their area in UNHCR’s database. Based on the countrywide data, NGOs know the needs and can tailor their responses nationwide.
Early marriage a key issue that leads to violence
Koualet mentions that early marriage is one of the core issues that leads to violence against women. When women are married off young, they are forced to interrupt their education – if they were in school in the first place. If women do not receive an education, they often end up staying at home doing housework and taking care of children, making them dependent on their husbands.
If a girl and her family refuse a marriage proposal, they might face consequences. In many cases of sexual violence, the perpetrator is someone they know from before, Koualet explains.
Usually, women with their own income suffer less from gender-based violence, which is why education is critical to preventing cases.
“Early marriage greatly slows down the development of young girls here. We work hard to discourage this custom and promote the benefits of education instead”, Koualet says.
After careful awareness-raising in the community in Baboua in Central African Republic, people know how to approach Zita Koualet in cases of violence or abuse.
Several of Koualet’s clients in Baboua, near the border to Cameroon, are only teenagers. One of them is 14-year-old Sylvaine. She was raped on her way home from an early evening event in her village. The assailant was a man who had earlier proposed to marry her, but Sylvaine and her family had declined.
“I had refused to marry because I wanted to continue my studies. Not too much later, I met the man when I was on my way home in the dark, and he assaulted me”, she says.
Sylvaine was first afraid to speak about the rape with anyone, but when she started feeling sick, she decided to confide in her sister. Her sister persuaded Sylvaine to talk to her mother, who had heard about FCA through an awareness campaign. FCA’s staff immediately took her to the hospital.
The doctor who treated her injuries quickly told Sylvaine she was pregnant.
“Our first thought was that we wanted to press charges against the perpetrator, but we decided that it would be disadvantageous for my future, my studies and marriage potential”, Syvlaine says.
Counselling comforts and helps building a way forward
The mental health consequences of gender-based violence are often paralysing. Ana is a 30-year-old single mother who takes care of her five children alone after divorcing her husband a few years earlier. Ana used to run a successful business as a vendor at the weekly market near the town of Bouar.
One day, she was assaulted and robbed by members of an armed group. They beat Ana and took all her possessions. Forced down on the ground, the men accused her of collaborating with another armed group. After driving over her with their motorcycles, they left her lying on the road.
“I lost all the money I had for supporting my children. They are now out of school, and during the month after the assault, I have not been able to work”, she says.
A dignity kit distributed to women in Baboua, Central African Republic contains a mosquito net, torch, underwear and other necessities, including a whistle to raise alarm in case of an attack.
The people who found Ana referred her to FCA, who took her to treatment for her injuries and covered her hospital costs. Ana still feels pain in her ribs and back but is able to walk. While still fearing to visit the local market, Ana feels grateful for the psychosocial support she receives weekly.
“Thanks to that, I have been able to live, and the hospital helped me back on my feet”, she says.
Ana and Sylvaine say that the most important reason for their recovery is understanding that they are not alone. Sylvaine also says that the counselling has been comforting and helped her realise that what happened to her was not her fault. Her goal is now to go back to school and continue her education.
“Speaking with the counsellors has made me realise I also want to work with something that makes a difference. Caring for my child does not stop me. My siblings and mother will support me”, Sylvaine says.
The names of the survivors of gender-based violence have been changed due to the sensitive nature of their stories.
