female empowerment

At GIA, female empowerment is something we hold very dear to our hearts. We are supporters of the Malala Foundation and are hugely inspired by her example and the positive effects that she has had on access to education for girls around the world. Women are half the world’s population and yet it is rare for them to be paid the same or have the same opportunities as men in most places.

On GIA projects supporting women and girls, you could find yourself in Guatemala, assisting local women who have goods they want to sell to the US market but who do not have the necessary marketing or language skills. You will have a vital contribution to make and even in a short period of time, you could have a long lasting impact on such women’s prospects.

Or perhaps you will be involved in teaching women a variety of subjects in Nepal (here school is taught in English), where the adult literacy rate is 67% and where you will help women with special educational needs of varying kinds. Or perhaps you might teach English to young girls in Cambodia as well as educating them on equality and listening to their stories. Sometimes, it’s your mere presence - modeling independent, educated girls and women - that demonstrates to them what is possible.

Due to the nature of many of our female empowerment projects, they require a longer period of time to be fully immersed into the community. Moving forwards, we will be setting up longer trips for these specific projects, but in the meantime, please feel free to get in contact regarding any on this page.

Please note: we will be launching a shorter trip to Guatemala very soon.

tanzania

Maasai society has its own lifestyle which differs from other societies in Tanzania. They have their own dressing styles, decorations and way of living. They wear the rectangular fabric, popularly known as ‘shuka’ in the Swahili language, which comes in different colors. The majority of women in Maasai communities live a life of poverty and cultural oppression. Men are the heads of the households and the village. They have control of almost every aspect of life and hold almost all the leadership roles.

Moreover, Maasai women’s main source of income is through selling traditional beaded jewelry. However, due to their vulnerability in lack of education, women do not have a systematic way of financially protecting their own economic interests. Here is where you can support the Maasai women through a mutually beneficial exchange of information in making informed financial decisions.

In essence, most of the women from Maasai tribes devote their time to milking, taking care of calves and domestic work. The majority of them do not speak English so you will be supervised on the ground by a locally trained coordinator, to ensure there is smooth communication between the women and yourself. The main goal is to facilitate Maasai women with a view to preparing the future that will guide them to have fruitful life into their old age.

Due to the remote location of this program and limited local transportation, you may be required to stay the first night in Monduli. Placement is in a Maasai village in Arusha, but to increase immersion you may get spread across various villages.

This program is intended to assist women who have not had access to basic education and are struggling to thrive, particularly in this day and age when understanding the value of education and the ability to manage basic technology have become critical survival skills. The ability to navigate issues such as personal development, environmental awareness, budgeting, entrepreneurship and financial literacy also helps to build resilience, which promotes long-term development.

Through our program, we use international participants' interactions with local women - who may never have had any real-life exposure to outsiders - to help them broaden their worldview and personal perspective. Participant immersion in the community fosters a mutually beneficial relationship with local women, from which all parties benefit equally. This is an opportunity to form relationships with someone from a different background and culture, to create an exchange that motivates both younger and older women to show their hidden talents and participate in activities that benefit the family, society and nation.

Creative teaching methods and a positive attitude are extremely beneficial in engaging women and breaking down existing barriers. Participants are encouraged to use a variety of techniques to teach topics that they are passionate about and/or have firsthand knowledge of, as long as they are relevant in helping the women to achieve their goals. Because English is widely spoken here, you will have a greater ability to convey your knowledge and use any reference materials and resources you have more easily.