“Bees are like soldiers to help conserve the area,” says Lidia Kivinge, chair of the VSLA group. “People and livestock are afraid to come here to this water catchment because of the bees, so they don’t disturb the environment.”
Kivinge took a loan from the VSLA to buy and install irrigation pipes to bring water from the local stream to her farm and to open an agricultural supply shop, which she co-owns with her husband. “[Through this group], we participate in mutual lending and depositing of money while also prioritizing environmental care,” she says. “Our group plays a vital role in raising awareness about environmental issues in our community. And our effective water source management has significantly contributed to the year-round flow of rivers.”
The variety of projects in Ibumila village showcases the potential of Sowing Change: “It’s really about helping women strengthen their abilities to care for themselves and their families, while also providing opportunities for them to work with each other to care for the environment,” says Margoluis.
While Sowing Change welcomes all interested comunity members, it focuses particularly on women. In regions like East Africa, women collect food, source water, and gather fuel. When resources are lacking, women have to skip meals and daughters have to leave school to help their mothers support the family. “Sowing Change gives women the literal seeds of change to rebuild climate-devastated communities and create more resilient ones for the future,” says Michelle Nunn, CEO of CARE.
Sowing Change will also help participants scale up their climate solutions by tapping into the Alliance’s expansive network.
“There is a global recognition of the potential impact of restoration as a climate change strategy,” says Margoluis. “This recognition provides us with many opportunities to leverage and partner with existing small- and large-scale restoration programs, rather than creating a stand-alone project. And it provides more opportunities for women participants in the program to network, learn from one another, and work together.”
Looking ahead, Margoluis says there’s an important final step for any Sowing Change project: sustainability over time, after the Alliance project is through. Work in Mozambique, where the Alliance began in 2008, proves this is no pipe dream.
“The Mozambique program ended several years ago, but the work is still being carried out by local teams,” she says. “To us, seeing communities lead their own climate solutions is really the sustainable solution. It’s the success story.”
To learn how you can support women’s leadership in local and global climate solutions by investing in Sowing Change, please contact [email protected].