Imagine a world where widows are treated as whole and worthy

We prepare widows to lead positive community transformation

HALF OF 24 MILLION widows in Africa suffer from stigma linked to their identity

Widows are one of the most neglected groups in gender and social justice issues globally. In many communities, widows face a web of interconnected challenges-especially stigma and exclusion that drives economic insecurity, sexual vulnerabilities and limited legal protection. Yet these issues are often absent from community action, policy and development agendas.

Our Solution

We have developed our own participatory method for widowhood training and action called Voice of Change (VoC). VoC is a widow-centric, Bible-informed widowhood curriculum that seeks to unpack the difficult experiences of widows and enable widowed women to devise actions that can bring meaningful change in their lives. VoC is our own unique intervention, created to be delivered by widows through widow group settings. The curriculum is a series of topical issues pertinent to widowhood, from parenting and food security to human rights and land rights.

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Our Model

Widows in our program participate in a three-phase journey. In the invitation phase, widows connect with their peers through weekly gatherings in their widow-to-widow support groups we call leadership circles. During preparation phase, widows participate in Voice of Change training raises their critical consciousness on widowhood stigma, its roots and impacts, that builds their confidence and competence as leaders at home and in their communities. After 3-years of Voice of Change, widows graduate to the transformation phase where their join a network through which they continue to invest in their economic resilience and take practical actions for change in their communities.

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Thematic Areas

Because we value the wellbeing of the widow and her children, we implement integrated programs in leadership, sustainable livelihoods and holistic wellbeing. In addition to 3-year Voice of Change training, Nyanam widows in need receive additional support such as seed fund for business, multistorey gardens for vegetable production, housing construction, individual and group counselling. Nyanam youth also receive school fee support. Our work with partners focuses only on Voice of Change as we encourage them to seek and tailor additional support based on their community needs.