WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS

Across Maun and its surrounding villages, women’s groups have been actively participating in a series of empowerment workshops. These interactive sessions helped women uncover their talents and develop essential skills in entrepreneurship, budgeting, and saving. Beyond the practical knowledge gained, the workshops sparked greater self-confidence, strengthened self-esteem, and promoted strong community bonds among participants.

The impact of poverty

Poverty affects people not only physically but also mentally. The constant confrontation with unexpected challenges or long-standing issues without visible solutions is exhausting.

Many struggle to know where to begin when faced with a maze of problems, leading to feelings of overwhelm, chronic stress, and survival-mode thinking where self-care is no longer a priority.

Empowerment and self-management trainings provide crucial support by building resilience and teaching skills that promote peace of mind and self-confidence. Working in group settings further enhances the impact, creating a strong sense of connection and shared learning.

Access to such programs is particularly important for people living in poverty, for whom these opportunities are typically out of reach. This need inspired Re Jala Peo to launch a 15-week empowerment program focused on personal development, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship for women in and around Maun.

So far, women groups from the following areas have participated:

• Thito Ward
• Moeti Ward
• Shashe Ward
• Sedie Ward
• Borolong Ward
• Xhoo Village
• Xaraxao Village
• Boro Village
• Tsutsubega Village

Many women discovered hidden talents and learned fundamental entrepreneurial skills. Encouragingly, several have already taken the step toward independent entrepreneurship, running small but flourishing businesses.

However, for the majority, the daily struggle to provide for their families makes it difficult to think or plan beyond immediate needs. Long-term, future-oriented action remains a major challenge.

Building opportunities: The Nina Safari Tales Project

To further support these women, Re Jala Peo launched the Nina Safari Tales project.
This pilot project, initially targeting women from Thito Ward, built on the crochet skills discovered during the empowerment workshops. It provided them an opportunity to develop their creativity, gain practical skills, and work towards financial independence.

Our Goal

Our aim is to create sustainable income opportunities for women in and around Maun, reducing their dependence on the government’s poverty relief program Ipelegeng, where they typically earn just BWP 617 per month.

Following the successful pilot, where twenty women were trained to crochet safari animals, we are ready for the next step: creating lasting and meaningful change in their lives.

To ensure sustainable impact, we are developing a solid and scalable model that can be expanded to other communities around the Okavango Delta. This project is about much more than teaching a skill:

• Crochet project:

  Women crochet safari animals using high-quality materials (yarn, crochet hooks, and pattern cards), guided by experienced local instructors.

  • Daily group meetings offer opportunities for skill-building, social connection, and mutual support.
  • Each crocheter receives BWP 300 per safari animal, enabling them to earn a dignified monthly income.
  • Practical support includes neck-worn reading lights (for crocheting in the evenings) and glasses

• Baking project:

  A small group of women bake fresh stroopwafels weekly. Stroopwafels, a popular Dutch treat in Botswana, are distributed during project meetings, providing both motivation and an additional source of income. The baking women are also encouraged and supported to expand their sales to wider markets.

• Sewing project:

  Two women sew sustainable fabric pouches for the crocheted animals, each pouch featuring a logo label and a story card introducing the crocheter. This not only increases the product’s market appeal but also provides new income-generating skills and opportunities.

Every aspect of the project is designed to promote learning, collaboration, self-confidence, and financial independence.

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