Strategic Aim 2: Increase women’s participation and voice

Womankind helps women to have a say not only in family life, but also in the priorities of their community, their region and their country – from helping women come together to push for health provision in their village, to letting women know they have a legal right to vote or leave a violent marriage.

Getting involved at the local level

Women may first come together informally, around a particular issue affecting or threatening their daily life, or the wellbeing of their children – just as women in the UK might get together in someone’s home to talk about how to improve local services such as a health centre or school.  Womankind supports women to come together and achieve this change.

In Ethiopia, for example, through our partner the Kembatta Women’s Support Centre, we are helping girls and women come together to discuss ways to end female genital mutilation.

Read more about our work in Ethiopia.

Making a bigger impact

Womankind also links small groups of women on the ground together, so that they share ideas and skills, develop confidence and form networks.

For example, in Zimbabwe, our partner the Zimbabwe Women’s Lawyer’s Association has trained local women to be peer educators – sharing legal information and knowledge with groups of women within their community.

Read more about our work in Zimbabwe.

Taking part in elections

Once women are able to participate at a local level and realise they can influence public life, many of them feel motivated to get involved in politics. Womankind is involved in many countries in helping women to stand for election, and in providing other women with the practical advice and support they need to vote, often for the first time, for example in Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.

Read more about our work in Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.