Groups We Work With
CAFWA’s Partners in Change
Grassroots Women’s Association for Development (GWAD)
GWAD is an organization started in 1999 with the mission to help women affected by war. GWAD helps its members in several ways.
Economically
The organization has a revolving fund which is given to members to help with capital to be able to start small business enterprises. The money is paid back with 5% interest. Prior to receiving the loan women are first trained in how to start a business and helped with different ideas to set up a variety of income generating activities (IGA).
Socially
The women meet once a month and discuss relevant topics such as gender issues, women’s rights, reproductive health, family planning, HIV/AIDS, conflict resolution, and small business management.
Politically
The meetings serve as a tool to help women learn skills such as public speaking, how to chair a meeting, and how to participate in a discussion. GWAD encourages women to take part in local community meetings, usually the domain of men, and the practice they get from attending the monthly GWAD meetings is a means to build confidence and a belief that their opinions and concerns matter.
At the moment the organization has 300 members. Each member contributes 2000 Ugandan shillings (about $1.15) upon becoming a member, then pays an annual fee of 1000 Ugsh. These dues pay for transport money and a small allowance for the 3 volunteers who run the office. What ever is left goes to the revolving fund.
The office is in desperate need of furniture, a computer and printer, and airtime for cellphones. The lack of these basic tools makes it very difficult for the office to keep running.
Presently CAFWA is working together with GWAD on two major projects which are scheduled to run for 1 year.
Tree planting:
CAFWA is helping GWAD to start a tree nursery. The first round of trees will be going to all the members and 5 different schools in the area around Gulu town. There are 3 groups of trees:
- Fruit trees – orange and mango which will mostly help increase the nutritional status of the women’s children and will also provide a small income.
- Income generating trees – the women will be planting a local tree called Lusambya (Markhamia lutea), a tree very similar to eucalyptus in that it can be harvested after 2 years and used for construction materials though is native to this area of Uganda. If grown successfully this can prove to be a great income generating source.
- Re-forestation trees – Due to the conflict many local trees have been cut for firewood and charcoal production. Trees which have been used for local remedies (for personal and animal health, as well as remedies to combat pests and diseases among crops) and fodder for animals are becoming increasingly hard to find due to this deforestation. 1/3 of all trees planted in this project will therefore be long-term native varieties which can help rebuild ecological stability in the program area.
Trees planted at the schools will be both for educational purposes and to help support the running of the school. Long-term trees will be a tool to help teach students the importance of taking care of trees and the environment, as well as a method to demonstrate the broad diversity and utility of local tree species. The income generation trees will provide much needed income to the schools to help with the purchase of educational material.
Revolving Fund CAFWA is supporting GWAD with a grant to increase their revolving funds. |
