Developing the Moringa Filtration System

Sæunn Gísladóttir, Marketing Volunteer

Every five years the United Nations puts out the World’s Women Report, a comprehensive study based on data gathered by national and international statistical agencies that looks at the worldwide status of women in comparison to men on a broad range of topics– from education to healthcare and beyond.

While overall trends, such as the increasing numbers of girls attending primary and secondary education are encouraging, women are still badly underrepresented in tertiary fields of study related to science and engineering. In many developing countries women have limited access to their own cash income and have little say in economic decisionmaking within their household.

Although every day at Global Mamas is, in a way, International Women’s Day, March 8th has been set aside to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. It’s also a time to draw attention to the ongoing need for greater gender parity in modern times, something we tackle head-on each day through sustainable fair trade relationships with the Mamas in Ghana.

As you “Meet the Mamas” on our website, you read about small business owners buying property, building homes, and thriving in their financial independence. As you talk to the batikers and beadmakers you discover women growing confident to make their own decisions and be active changemakers in their communities. You also read, time and again, of the great joy with which they are sending their children– sons AND daughters, to school. An opportunity many of the older generations didn’t have access to themselves.

Developing the Moringa Filtration System
Cecilia purchase land of her own and hopes to start a batik school. Aggie paid her own way through an undergraduate degree in management.

When Elizabeth Asem started working for Global Mamas five years ago, it was her dream that the women in her family would receive a higher education. Many Ghanaians only complete Junior Secondary School (JSS or JHS) due to the high cost of secondary and tertiary education.

Elizabeth%20and%20Daughters
Elizabeth (left), with younger daughter Gifty (middle), and sister Perfect.

Elizabeth’s dream came true last November when her sister, Perfect, completed community health nursing training– a three year program following secondary school– with her financial support. Elizabeth’s daughter, Gifty, also completed high school and is currently studying education at the University of Cape Coast. Her goal upon graduation is to return home and become a teacher in Cape Coast. Elizabeth is very proud of her family and believes that higher education is a vital part of Ghana’s continuing development.

This International Women’s Day we’re excited for the future of Ghana and believe in it’s success as more and more women are able to achieve their full potential and are empowered to make change in their communities. To Global Mamas customers that are the key to our success in supporting Ghanaian women to #BeBoldForChange, Elizabeth urges, “Keep on wearing the African way!

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