African women' empowerment pathway

I have started working in West Africa and have been interacting with communities there. People are extremely friendly and hospitable. But language is a big challenge where more than 5 tribes speak more than five different dialects. 'Nangadef' and 'Jarama' is what I learnt so far which  are ways to greet in two dialects. UNICEF has partnered with Civil Society Organizations to intervene with Community empowerment programs. The Community Empowerment program in the villages has caught up well and communities are learning basic yet critical and essential things for improving quality of their lives. Classes are conducted twice a week on life-skills related issues covering topics such as mathematical skills (basic calculations), group interaction further graduating to livelihood skills, importance of working in groups along with information of harmful traditional practices and aspects of health, hygiene and nutrition etc. It is interesting to see that the community members who are attending the classes have adopted other villages where the classes are not yet happening and they disseminate the learning with their friends to spread the awareness and share the knowledge for wider benefit.

While there is much more to this program, for now time allows for this much.. more details will follow.