Department of Women, Children & Social Welfare

Head of Department for Women, Children and Social Welfare (Photo: Annika Henkel)
Men and women are created in the image of God. So they are all equal regardless their sex. But due to culture beliefs, women were left behind in various spheres of life in the past. To compensate these differences and to respond to the needs of women, the department was started in 1969. The aim is to empower women spiritually, economically, socially and culturally. Furthermore the department creates awareness on Human Rights, HIV/AIDS and environmental conservation. Since the year 2000, the department occupies also with activities for children and social work. Faustine Kahwa is head of the department.

Activities

World Day of Prayer

Every year in March, the Word Day of Prayer takes place in the world and also at the districts and parishes at Karagwe. The department is involved in the organisation and offers women the possibility to express their status: They can exchange their life experiences and plans, talk about their contribution in mission work and swap ideas on the need of gender cooperation for the development.

Soliciting funds for women projects

Women department: Helping poor women to get a place to live. (Rev. Jorg Staehler)
Projects of different women groups are funded by the UEM to support the women in business. With this financial help women are able to cultivate vegetables or to produce clothes with needleworks. Because of the finally selling the projects generate an income for the women and their families.

Advising women

The department works hand in hand with women’s groups from the congregational to the diocesan level, all over the diocese. Within seminars, workshops, meetings, visitation and short courses, women get advised to bring up their children in a Christian way.

Assisting distressed women

In addition, the department is striving to reduce poverty by assisting distressed or abandoned women. Within the 10-years-project, it provides shelter and plots for women in need. Since 2003, the beginning of the project, 27 houses have been constructed, 22 plots were purchased and allocated to the women.

Plans

    - Building a hostel and a hall at Omurushaka for meetings and seminars
    - Preparing teachings to strengthen families
    - Basing Sunday Schools for children at every congregation
    - Gender mainstreaming to all KAD departments
    - Conducting more seminars and workshops for women
    - Sending more women to short courses

Challenge

The land of the Karagwe Diocese is wide and the parishes and congregations are scattered all over it. Because of the less developed infrastructure, it is still a challenge to reach all women in the diocese.


Contacts

Further information about the Department for Women through Faustine Kahwa by Email women@kad.or.tz or Faustine_Kahwa@yahoo.com


Text: Faustine Kahwa