Women's Empowerment

Maasai women celebrating at a male coming of age ceremony
Maasai women celebrating at a male coming of age ceremony

Goal Three of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is:

PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN

Since its early days, Terrawatu has worked hard to facilitate the education of girls and to give women tools to improve their livelihoods. We believe that true women's empowerment must emerge from within a culture. Global community experts can provide education and strategies, but women need to adapt these tools for what will work harmoniously within their extended family and village.

Our greatest success story of women's empowerment comes from Mkonoo village in rural Tanzania. Terrawatu has cultivated a long-term relationship with several homesteads in Mkonoo that has manifested a tree planting network, reliable water supply, and small businesses based on traditional beadwork and handicrafts. The lives of the women -- and therefore, the children and men -- in Mkonoo have tangibly improved since 2002. You can feel it when you visit the village.