How to Harness the Power of Community
‘Now, me and my family live easily’—Meet Ishaka, Yattu and Baindu
Last month we met Jusu, a remarkable young man from southern Sierra Leone, who taught people in his community how to write through our Empowering Local Communities in Pujehun project, co-funded by the European Union. Jusu's story demonstrated the power of knowledge sharing and community building, how fundamental they are to lifting people out of poverty and setting them up for a brighter future. In Koiva, roughly seven miles north of Jusu's village, a similar story is unfolding. Working alongside our local partners MAPCO, we used our community-based organisation model (CBO) to administer economic support services, such as seed banks, small business loans and vocational training offers delivered by artisans, for the people of Koiva.
‘I am so proud of teaching adult literacy to women in the community’ – Jusu’s Story
‘It all depends on the (rural) women’
Today is International Rural Women’s Day. Today, as any other day, millions of women will wake up and set to work on farms across the globe. Though their labour is crucial in sustaining billions of lives, many will suffer worse access to resources, lower pay and less rights than their male counterparts. Many are excluded from the decisions which affect their livelihood; many experience abuse and some fall victim to modern-day slavery. Those with their own business may obtain lower prices for their produce and face discrimination and exploitation in accessing resources. And yet, without their labour, global food production would come to a standstill.
We’ve kicked off three exciting new projects!
At the end of the last year, we had the wonderful news that we had the go-ahead to start three brilliant new projects with our partners MAPCO in Sierra Leone and PLA in Uganda in early 2022.
The Big Give for Women Changemakers in Sierra Leone launches TODAY!
You can join forces with Women Changemakers in Sierra Leone to help them stop poverty in their communities through vegetable farming and soap-making businesses with DOUBLE THE IMPACT by donating before Tuesday 7th December.
Launching Tuesday 30th November 2021: The Big Give will match all donations for Women Changemakers in Sierra Leone
We are excited to share that in 2022 we will be launching a brand new project working with Women Changemakers in Sierra Leone. We'll work with rural women living on less than £1.40 a day to earn a living with backyard vegetable farming and soap making. Along the way they'll also learn business skills, literacy and numeracy, and gain an understanding of their rights, paving the way to a better life for their whole community.
“I stand with APT and I wish everyone can find time and a way that they can support them as well” -Big Zuu
This week from Sunday 11th to Saturday 17th July 2021 we are running our BBC Radio 4 appeal presented by the lovely Big Zuu, Grime MC and TV cooking show host.
Grime MC and TV presenter Big Zuu takes our Sierra Leone work to BBC Radio Four!
Big Zuu is a grime rapper from West London with his own TV cooking show, cookbook and radio shows, and Action on Poverty is thrilled to have his support launching our BBC Radio 4 appeal this Sunday 11th July at 7:55am!
Watch our video on how we’ve supported people in Sierra Leone to stay safe from COVID-19
Bridget Amara from our partner organisation MAPCO has shared how our Rapid Response project in Sierra Leone has supported communities to stay safe and resilient in our video .
From a small business loan to a happier future – how communities in Sierra Leone are overcoming COVID-19 challenges
