From 16 to 19 September 2024, a Workshop organised by the World Women's Observatory (WWO) of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO) took place in Uganda, Entebbe, under the title ‘African Network against violence and discrimination against women, sharing good practices and results’. This event brought together up to 65 women (religious and lay) leaders representing organisations and congregations from Cameroon, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The meeting was notable for the diversity of proposals and solutions that were shared, as well as the commitments that the participants signed to implement good practices in their organisations.
The first day of the Workshop began with a spiritual reflection by Sister Catherine Mulwa (Kenya), WWO assistant in Africa, creating a space of calm and openness for the following days of intense work. Sister Maureen Ogundeph (Kenya), community manager in Africa, led a presentation dynamic that allowed the participants to get to know each other better by introducing themselves to one another. Patricio Caruso, representing WUCWO and the Rome-based WWO, then explained the main objectives of the WWO and the purpose of this meeting in Uganda, one of them being to strengthen the network and commit to action.
Sharing good practices
During the sessions, several key issues in the fight against violence were addressed. Indeed, one of the issues that stood out was the importance of involving men in this process. The day included a presentation of good practices by leaders from various countries. Among them, Marie Angele Diatta, from Senegal, who shared her experience in the fight against gender-based violence through education and the strengthening of family ties. Judith Chiatoh from Cameroon presented a successful training programme for disadvantaged women, where 90% of the participants acquired useful skills and 80% managed to start income-generating activities or find employment.
Other speakers were Thérèse Arama from Mali, who explained how her country is fighting to end violence and promote female education, and Cecilia Asobayire from Ghana, how they try to involve men in awareness-raising programmes. Sylvia Ruambo, from Tanzania, leads the projects ‘Rise and Raise’ and ‘Set Me Free’, benefiting more than 230 women, focusing on economic empowerment, parenting, menstrual health, and legal and psychological support. Among its achievements is the release of 24 women unjustly imprisoned.
Sister Benedicta Kiro, from Uganda, shared her project experience with refugees, and Sister Juliana Nduge, from Kenya, delved into how the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK) works for the empowerment and mitigation of violence against women, with a focus on advocacy, gender equality and affirmative action. Their successes include youth empowerment programmes for 1000 people.
Become a community manager and ambassador for WWO
The second day focused on communication, how to raise awareness of the projects and good practices that are being implemented. Sister Maureen presented the concept of ‘Community Manager’, underlining the importance of having leaders within the communities who facilitate the dissemination of information and promote the smooth running of local projects. Throughout the day, participants shared personal stories of how working in their communities has transformed their lives, a moment that the women agreed was particularly inspiring and communion among them.
Esther Nyacke, also a community manager at WWO, recounted her experience promoting the #InvisibleNoMore campaign against gender-based violence. She explained how this movement can be implemented at the local level through small actions, such as screening the documentary ‘In-Visibles’ in homes or parishes, encouraging people to become ambassadors for the cause.
Fundraising and Networking
The third day was dedicated to fundraising and networking. Christine Laura Okello from Caritas Uganda presented a practical guide to resource mobilisation, emphasising that it is about mobilising different types of resources to strengthen projects. After her presentation, participants worked in groups to develop fundraising strategies applicable to their own projects.
In the afternoon, the Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, celebrated the Eucharist, followed by a discussion on different forms of networking. Evaline Malisa Ntenga, WUCWO African Region Vice-President, introduced the theme by focusing on the importance of humble leadership and investment in small communities to achieve social transformation from the grassroots level. Afterwards, different presentations of examples of networking ended the day, such as that of Elisabeth Ngami, from the National Family Life Office of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), who highlighted the importance of collaboration between WUCWO organisations and the Bishops' Conferences. Her intervention opened the discussion on how to establish greater connection and cooperation with the bishops to achieve greater impact in the fight against gender-based violence. Also speaking were Sister Catherine; Doreen Zimba from Malawi; and Alice Muchiri, coordinator of Catholic Legislators in Kenya.
Women's leadership
The fourth and final day of the workshop focused on women's leadership, introduced by Sister Francisca Ngozi from Nigeria, who reflected on the different types of leadership and highlighted examples of women leaders who have transformed their communities. This was followed by a panel discussion with women leaders Evaline Malisa, Alice Muchiri, and Beatrice Tavares, WUCWO Council member in Senegal, who underlined the need that women lead with empathy while maintaining a strong commitment to the values of the Church. Beatrice, in particular, highlighted the importance of synodality, an initiative promoted by Pope Francis to foster collaboration and mutual listening within the Church.
The Workshop concluded with a reflection on the need to network, both among lay and religious women, and to actively involve bishops and other church leaders in the fight against gender-based violence.
This workshop not only provided concrete tools to address violence and discrimination against women, but has also provided a space for exchange and mutual reinforcement among leaders committed to social change in Africa. Participants have returned to their communities inspired and determined to implement what they have learned to continue to combat violence and to offer a voice to end it.endido para seguir combatiendo la violencia y dar voz para terminar con ella.
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