“Before I was struggling to pay for my grandchildren’s school fees. Since I joined GWIBDI, through the agriculture and financial literacy trainings and distribution of tools and seedlings, I had the opportunity to improve my crop yields under different climatic conditions which I now sell at home and at the Gizo market. The support has enabled me to be economically stable now that I can now pay for my grand children’s school fees,” Marelyn Levusu.
Rural women, and in particular women with disabilities, face multiple barriers and risks to their livelihoods and towards ensuring food security for themselves and their families.
Some of these barriers and risks are created by social norms – women are often not invited to agricultural training as backyard gardening for food security is not considered ‘farming’. Even when included, women may not be able to attend due to family care responsibilities or may not be able to participate fully as they are not comfortable speaking and asking questions. Women with disabilities face barriers to accessing transport and market spaces.