A path shared for 27 years - IFAD

“I didn’t learn only how to read and write: I learned how to improve
living conditions in my home; I can help the children with their
homework; I understand the importance of cleanliness and personal
hygiene; I know which health card belongs to which member of my
family; I know when it’s my turn at the health centre because I can read
the paper they gave me when I arrived; I know how to get where I want
to in the big town; I know how to make our food last longer; I know
how to use a mobile phone.”
Village woman, Chad
We have learned a lot about health and especially how to prevent
malaria, but we don’t always do it. It just doesn’t seem worth the
bother. We used to use the mosquito nets for fishing. We hadn’t stopped
to think what that did to the fish stocks.
Comments from women in fishing communities, Mozambique
We used to give the babies flour mixed with water almost immediately
after birth. We’ve learned how important it is to breastfeed them
exclusively for the first six months and then to give them enriched
weaning foods. We use local products that are always available and less
expensive. There’s a big difference between the older children and the
younger ones. The younger ones don’t get sick as often or as seriously.
Comments from women’s nutrition group, North Guéra, Chad
At first, the project people said they weren’t going to support literacy
training but they did anyway, after realizing that it was something a
lot of women wanted. The other training we’d received made us realize
how important it was to know how to read and write. The women’s
associations are paying the teachers themselves.
Comments from women at a participatory evaluation workshop in North Kivu,
Democratic Republic of Congo
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Sewing class, Rwanda.
©IFAD/R. Grossman
A newborn waiting her turn at the
health centre, United Republic of Tanzania.
©IFAD/C. Nesbitt