COVID-19 Relief Fund for Malawian Women & Girls
Donation protected
With your help, you will support women and girls in Malawi during these uncertain times and reduce setbacks that Malawian women and girls are facing.
100% of the donations will go towards supporting adolescent girls to stay in school and buy essential supplies such as soap, sanitary pads, mask-sewing supplies, and educational materials that will help them succeed in education. It will also assist women who have lost their businesses and jobs to regain financial security.
All the funds will be directly sent to the Center for Women and Girls Empowerment (CEWOGE), a non-governmental organization that is working tirelessly to promote gender equality in Malawi. The funds raised will help support their work in sexual reproductive health, girl’s education and women’s economic empowerment. Please visit their website to learn more about their work.
For more information on the impact of COVID-19 on Gender Issues click here .
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 172 out of 189 countries and territories on the United Nations Human Development Index. The country has experienced several health crises, HIV/AIDS being one of them. Currently, 1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and about a million children have been orphaned by the disease. In addition to that, several Malawians suffer from infectious diseases such as hepatitis A, malaria, rabies, schistosomiasis, and typhoid. COVID-19 is known to be particularly dangerous for people with underlying health conditions and a significant proportion of Malawians fall into that vulnerable category.
Disease outbreaks increase girls’ and young women’s duties who traditionally care for sick family members. The economic stress that most families are facing impacts girls who end up being exploited and abused. Marginalized girls and those with disabilities are likely to be impacted by the secondary effects of the outbreak due to harmful social norms and double discrimination based on age and gender. The current pandemic significantly exacerbates these effects. Economic distortions set back gender equality in the long-term, with implications that long outlast the pandemic itself.
Although the government enforced social distancing in the country, it is a unmanageable for many Malawians, since the majority of the population live in close proximities. Knowing what we know about COVID-19, this type of environment is not conducive to the prevention and spread of the virus. In schools, social distancing will require the government to increase school blocks and the number of teachers, which is and has been a challenge in Malawi for decades.
Unfortunately, not all parents will be economically able to provide girls with their necessities, as some have lost their jobs. This will likely lead to the education system facing an increase in dropout rates. As a result, several girls will be victims of early marriages and unwanted pregnancies.
100% of the donations will go towards supporting adolescent girls to stay in school and buy essential supplies such as soap, sanitary pads, mask-sewing supplies, and educational materials that will help them succeed in education. It will also assist women who have lost their businesses and jobs to regain financial security.
All the funds will be directly sent to the Center for Women and Girls Empowerment (CEWOGE), a non-governmental organization that is working tirelessly to promote gender equality in Malawi. The funds raised will help support their work in sexual reproductive health, girl’s education and women’s economic empowerment. Please visit their website to learn more about their work.
For more information on the impact of COVID-19 on Gender Issues click here .
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 172 out of 189 countries and territories on the United Nations Human Development Index. The country has experienced several health crises, HIV/AIDS being one of them. Currently, 1 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and about a million children have been orphaned by the disease. In addition to that, several Malawians suffer from infectious diseases such as hepatitis A, malaria, rabies, schistosomiasis, and typhoid. COVID-19 is known to be particularly dangerous for people with underlying health conditions and a significant proportion of Malawians fall into that vulnerable category.
Disease outbreaks increase girls’ and young women’s duties who traditionally care for sick family members. The economic stress that most families are facing impacts girls who end up being exploited and abused. Marginalized girls and those with disabilities are likely to be impacted by the secondary effects of the outbreak due to harmful social norms and double discrimination based on age and gender. The current pandemic significantly exacerbates these effects. Economic distortions set back gender equality in the long-term, with implications that long outlast the pandemic itself.
Although the government enforced social distancing in the country, it is a unmanageable for many Malawians, since the majority of the population live in close proximities. Knowing what we know about COVID-19, this type of environment is not conducive to the prevention and spread of the virus. In schools, social distancing will require the government to increase school blocks and the number of teachers, which is and has been a challenge in Malawi for decades.
Unfortunately, not all parents will be economically able to provide girls with their necessities, as some have lost their jobs. This will likely lead to the education system facing an increase in dropout rates. As a result, several girls will be victims of early marriages and unwanted pregnancies.
Fundraising team (2)
Tabia Ethel
Organizer
New York, NY
Robin El Kady
Team member
