Stories of change

Welcome to this special update from the countries ActionAid works in around the world.

The past few months have been a strange and challenging time as we adjust to the changes coronavirus has brought to us all around the world.

Thank you for your vital and continued support of our work at this time.

Your generosity means we can respond to the changing needs of the communities we work with, and this has never been more important.

Many of the following stories were collected before the coronavirus crisis, but they demonstrate just how vitally important your support is, and will be, for people in these communities.

We've also included facts and figures about our work responding to the pandemic, so you can see how we're making a difference during this difficult period. Thank you.

Bangladesh

Thanks to your support, women like Shirin are ending gender stereotypes in Bangladesh.

"We women were just seen as the caretakers. Despite us women toiling all day helping to grow crops and care for the family, it was the men who took the money and decided how to use it," said 38-year-old Shirin from Bangladesh.

"I joined ActionAid’s women’s farming group where I received training and support. I started a business making quilts.

"But I was still working from 5am to 9pm without any break, until ActionAid organised activities to show the men the burden us women faced every day.

"I encouraged my husband to participate in these activities. He also agreed to take part in a cooking competition as a part of a campaign called Different Images of Men.

"Now we share more of the chores and he sees value in my work. We are much closer and I have more time to sew, which allows me to earn and pay for our children’s schoolbooks."

Brazil

Supporters like you are helping to bring water to Selma’s community.

"Hello from Brazil. My name is Selma, I am 39 years old and I live with my husband and children. I have always wanted to grow my own crops, but our water supply was unreliable.

"We would often go for days without any water and when we did have some, we had to save it for cooking and drinking. It felt frivolous to use it to water plants. 

Thanks to ActionAid’s support, our village was selected to be part of a project that aims to install 1 million rainwater collection tanks in dry areas like ours.

"This support has helped me make a huge change in my life. I now grow my own healthy, organic food and I spend less at the market. I am also earning a living selling my crops.

"I never thought that one day I would plant here and sell food, but the water tank and training has made my dream a reality."

Ghana

Our colleagues in Ghana are protecting the education of girls like Drusilla.

"I had to leave school, as that is what happens when a girl gets pregnant," said Drusilla from Ghana.

"I thought that was the end of my education. But then ActionAid began working in my community to help girls like me who had dropped out of school.

"ActionAid worked with my parents and teachers to explain that there is a government policy which gives teenage mothers like me the opportunity to return to school.

"To help me settle back into my education, I received exercise books, a school uniform, sandals and a school bag.

"It is also a space where we receive career advice and learn about our rights. We have been lucky to have some inspiring female leaders come to talk to us too.

"I am thankful for ActionAid helping to change the belief that pregnancy ends education. I am living proof that this is not the case – I am the first girl in my family to attend senior school!"

Haiti

Thank you for helping girls like Natalie learn the importance of education.

“In my community, teenage girls getting pregnant is a common problem," said 14-year-old Natalie from Haiti.

"Pregnant girls drop out of school and are often seen as a burden to their family. Both of my older sisters had children when they were still at school and they never had the chance to go back, meaning their work choices are now limited.

“ActionAid came to my school to talk to us about sexual health. The trainer had got pregnant herself while at school.

"She shared her story with us and encouraged us to avoid the pitfalls she had fallen into. A nurse also explained how our bodies change, the dangers of unsafe sex and how to protect ourselves from getting pregnant.

"These were some of the things that I had read in the books, but never understood. It was very helpful to be able to ask questions and discuss our issues and experiences."

Kenya

In Kenya, supporters like you have helped Eunice’s dream become true.

"After leaving school I found it difficult to find work. It is very easy for young adults like me to fall into selling drugs due to the lack of opportunities. I have been determined not to follow that route, but it is a struggle," explains Eunice from Kenya.

"This is why I was so happy when I had the opportunity to attend a business skills workshop organised by ActionAid for young adults.

"I learned how to write a business plan and basic skills like bookkeeping. ActionAid also provided me with six chicks and trained me how to care for them.

"I looked after my six chicks until they matured and then sold them, buying even more chicks with the proceeds. I have always wanted to open a barber’s shop, but never had any money.

Nepal

Thank you for bringing safe, clean water to Chanda’s home.

"In my village, 20 families shared one communal tap – and the tap was a 30-minute walk from my home," said Chanda, a mother of two from Nepal.

"I must have spent hours fetching water every day for my family. Water was also becoming scarce as the water tank was in a poor state of repair and there were leaks in the pipes.

"This was having an impact on my family’s health, we couldn’t grow enough vegetables and I had little time and energy after collecting the water.

"If we were able to manage our water system better there could have been enough water, but we did not have enough money to purchase pipes or to install a new water tank.

"Now I have more time to spend with my children instead of leaving them while I queue for water. My vegetables are thriving so much so that I am making a living selling our surplus.

"I would like to thank you on behalf of all the 20 households whose families now have access to safe drinking water."

Nigeria

Hauwa has been able to rebuild her life, thanks to supporters like you.

"My life changed forever in 2017, when my community was attacked by robbers. My husband tried to defend our belongings, but he was killed.

"All our supplies, meagre savings and 30 cows were taken. It was devastating," says Hauwa, from Nigeria.

"Before the attack, I made and sold Nunu milk, which is a local drink made from cows’ milk and millet, but I’d lost our cows, so had no way to do this.

"It was such a relief when ActionAid came to my village. They organised training for families to help develop businesses and improve our incomes.

"Once I completed this training, ActionAid helped me start my own business selling Nunu milk again. With some start-up money I was able to source cows’ milk and millet grains to begin making Nunu milk.

"I am proud to tell you that I am the sole supplier of Nunu milk in my area and I have lots of repeat customers. I am now making a monthly profit of 15,000 naira [£32].

Tanzania

A women’s farming group has changed Shakila’s life – this was possible thanks to your support.

"For many years I have grown the same crop on my farm, but each year the harvest has got worse and worse," says 54-year-old Shakila from Tanzania.

"I joined one of the ActionAid-supported women’s groups in my community. At this group I learned how to improve the quality of my soil including crop rotation and irrigation.

"I also learned how to grow different crops for business and home consumption in the same field. 

"As well as our individual farms, our group also has a shared farm where we work together. When we harvest and sell the produce, we divide the profit between us, but also keep some for our group fund.

"This fund is available for members, who can take loans from it.  

The Gambia

Your support has helped women like Fatou improve their harvests.

"The women in my community depend entirely on farming to feed our families and make a small amount of money," says Fatou, who lives in the central region of The Gambia.

"We have a few farming tools available in my community, but the men take them, leaving us women to use our bare hands. I struggled to grow enough food to cover my family needs for more than a couple of months each year.

"I was excited when I learned that ActionAid was holding meetings in my village to help women farmers like me.

"They supported us with grants to purchase much needed farming tools. I also purchased a donkey to help me plough my land.

"The new farming tools have totally transformed my life. I have been able to sow my seeds on time into a freshly ploughed field. Even though I have the same amount of land, my yield has increased to 14 bags of groundnut, which is about 910kg."