WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT

Why do we need a special focus on women? Mariama, her daughter, and her mother in her home near Niamey, the capital of Niger. Photo credit: François Therrien

Sreymom running a workshop with local villagers in Cambodia. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Worldwide, more than 60% of adults and youth unable to read and write are female.

A mother and her child in a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon. Credit: Caritas Switzerland 75% of people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2014 were women and children.

Sreymom, a midwife in the remote Mondulkiri, province of Northeast Cambodia. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Every hour, 34 women die from childbirth or pregnancy related causes.

Anti-Violence Campaign in PNG Highlands. Globally, 1 in 3 women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.

Mariama and her daughter Fati (Niger). Photo credit: François Therrien 11.4 million women and girls are in forced labour.

IN AUSTRALIA Lorraine and Barbara at The Purple House which supports a connection to country and culture through traditional activities. Photo credit: Simon Hewson Life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander females is 73.7 years, 9.4 years less than non-Indigenous females (83.1 years).

CARITAS AUSTRALIA Ending poverty Promoting justice Upholding dignity Our mission:

LEARNING MORE, CREATING CHANGE Doney lives in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. Like many families in her remote village, Doney and her family have often gone months without enough to eat. But with the support of Caritas Australia and local partner CADECOM, the people of Doney’s community have learned to harness their strengths. Video: If you have an internet connection please watch this video about Doney. Click on the image below.

Doney’s passion for education was recognised as a strength of the community, so she received training as an Adult Literacy Facilitator through the CADECOM program, and is now teaching adults in her village to read, write and count money. Despite only finishing primary school, Doney’s training in Adult Literacy gave her the skills to teach literacy and numeracy to adults in her village. Photograph credit: Andrew Garrick and Andrew McClymont LEARNING MORE, CREATING CHANGE

Through the program, families were trained in new farming techniques, so crops would be more plentiful and reliable. CADECOM worked with the community to install a bore-hole so people have access to clean water. Families have also built hand-washing facilities at their homes and have learnt about better hygiene. Doney and her son, Junior, using their new hand-washing device. Photograph credit: Andrew Garrick and Andrew McClymont LEARNING MORE, CREATING CHANGE

IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND BABIES Before enrolling in the Mondulkiri Community Health Program, supported by Caritas Australia, young midwife Sreymom lacked the practical experience necessary to safely assist childbirth. Sreymom with a local mother and baby. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright Video: If you have an internet connection please watch this video about Sreymom. Click on the image below.

IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND BABIES Now, with the skills and knowledge gained through the program, Sreymom is a trusted midwife who is helping to improve the health of Indigenous women and children in her region. Sreymom using her skills with confidence. Photo credit: Richard Wainwright

CREATING CONNECTIONS First Australian, Evangeline, lives in a remote community that faces many ongoing challenges. She had a limited vision for her future until three years ago, when she started working at the Djilpin Arts Ghunmarn Culture Centre. Video: If you have an internet connection please watch this video about Evangeline. Click on the image below.

The centre is a community- owned venture supported by Caritas Australia. Today Evangeline is flourishing, with new skills and a passion for the preservation and promotion of her Aboriginal culture. Evangeline, an Artsworker at Djilpin Arts Ghunmarn Culture Centre, talking to another staff member. Photo credit: Danielle Lyonne CREATING CONNECTIONS

TEACHING RESOURCES PRIMARYPRIMARY SECONDARYSECONDARY

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