On Monday, (01 November 2021), Tag a Life International (TaLI), a girls and young women’s rights organisation conducted a groundbreaking ceremony in Hurungwe Bravo village.
In its efforts to reduce unpaid care work, gender-based violence, deforestation and financial illiteracy, Tag a Life International launched the Young Women Empowerment Through Provision of Clean Renewable Energy for Domestic Use and Livelihoods project.
The project consists of setting up of a biogas plant called the Water Jacket-overflow system with the capacity to produce 80m3 of biogas, piggery production, planting of an orchard, economic empowerment programmes, training on climate change, sustainable development, women’s rights and the use of biogas as a means of clean energy that addresses climate change-related challenges.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, Tag a Life International (TaLI) Director, Nyari Mashayamombe said, “This initiative is meant to offer alternative and renewable energy that can be used for household use and reduces, if not remove, the daily task of fuelwood gathering, which can, in areas of scarcity, be the single most time-consuming task for women, especially those who take more than three hours in some instances.
“Freeing up energy and time for women in such circumstances often allows them to have time for other activities, some of which may be income-generating, and more so the use of firewood that has caused massive deforestation.
“Most girls and young women have been sexually abused on their way to source firewood. Biogas production will reduce rape cases. Since men were the economically empowered group, women were being abused and cases of Gender-Based Violence were high in Bravo village.
“However, this project after relieving girls and young women of the burden of fetching firewood will empower them economically. The orchard production will empower girls and young women economically as they will sell the fruits. It will also contribute to their nutrition.”
The project seeks to benefit girls below the age of 24, young mothers below the age of 35 as well as a few elderly above the age of 35 years.
The village head of Bravo village handed over the land to TaLI which is going to be used for the 80m2 biogas digester, Piggery Production and orchard production. A number of stakeholders are on board supporting the life-changing project which includes, Hurungwe RDC, EMA, AGRITEX, Women’s Affairs, Forestry Commission and Ministry of Youths just to mention a few.
Today, women and girls are responsible for over 75% of all unpaid care and domestic work (UCDW) globally, contributing over three times more labour than men.
The TaLI project comes at a time when the development community is being encouraged to be more serious about its SDG 5 commitment to “recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work” by 2030, there is a need for better-designed programming that places gender norms at the heart of its approach.
The Project which is being implemented with support from the UNDP has been welcomed by women in Bravo village as they believe that it will go a long way in empowering girls and young women.
