Empowering women, empowering communities

Handmade jewellery from a rural women’s group

Last year, I had an amazing, eye-opening opportunity to travel to Cameroon, a country in Sub-Saharan Africa. There I lived in a lively slum and slept in a small bedroom with not much more than my bed, mosquito net and a new friend in the shape of a sneaky gecko lizard.

Cameroon is on the central-western coast of Africa. Like Canada, Cameroon is a bilingual country made up of many provinces. I lived in the economic capital city of Douala, a busy, crowded metropolis. Every morning, I woke up to a cold shower and a fast ride into town on the back of a motorcycle taxi. I was surrounded by stark contrasts—beautiful houses, five-star hotels and upscale restaurants neighbouring areas of widespread poverty.

For six months I worked on a project to help local businesswomen contribute to the local and global economy. The project was focused on the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of promoting gender equality by empowering women and developing a global partnership for development.

A local woman showcases her organic fruit and vegetables

Working in Cameroon made me realize how important micro-credit and capacity-building projects are. Free The Children’s Alternative Income program provides women with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in business at a local and international level. Through the Alternative Income program, you can help to provide milking animals to generate income, micro-credit loans and skills training to women in countries where Free The Children works.

Through supporting Alternative Income projects we can all take action toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, but most importantly we can empower women, their families and entire communities in the developing world.

Dana Crawford-Dignard
International Youth Coordinator

Free The Children is the largest network of children helping children through education in the world, with more than one million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has an established track-record of success, with three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize and partnerships with the United Nations and Oprah’s Angel Network.