[ [link removed] ]Mercy Corps

Dear friend,

From rebuilding their lives after fleeing the war in Ukraine to creating
new opportunities for women by challenging gendered social norms, women
around the world are creating pathways to a more vibrant future for us
all.

Today, on International Women’s Day, we invite you to get to know a few of
these women below and send a message of support to women participating in
our programs around the world.


[ [link removed] ]Send your message [ [link removed] ]▸


Kawsar

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[ [link removed] ]Kawsar dreams of opening her own mechanic shop — a dream that would
typically be out of reach for women in her rural area of Ethiopia. But
she is proud to be challenging gender norms and showing others what
women are capable of.

She is the only woman to graduate from a Mercy Corps job-training
program focused on reducing high unemployment rates. The program
teaches skills in construction and helps people obtain their drivers’
licenses.
   
Kawsar is now a licensed driver and working toward her mechanic
certificate. She juggles her studies with her household duties, waking
up early to prepare meals and get her four children off to school, and
studying late into the night.

Her accomplishments have inspired her children who all have big
dreams. Some want to be drivers like Kawsar and others want to be
mechanical engineers or doctors. She’s also serving as a role model
for other women in her community — six women will be participating in
the next round of training and Kawsar couldn’t be more proud.
 


Oleksandra

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[ [link removed] ]Oleksandra woke with a start on February 24, 2022. It was 5 a.m. in
Ukraine and the sky was "full of fire." It was a stark contrast to the
peaceful life she was living with her husband and four-year old son,
Andri, just a few weeks earlier.

After the shelling started, Oleksandra and her family nearly depleted
their savings buying food which had skyrocketed in price. They stood
in line for hours to buy bread. They stayed in their home in an area
  under Russian control and near-constant shellings for almost eight  
months.

When it became too dangerous to stay, they fled to a shelter run by a
Mercy Corps partner. The shelter hosts three families and has a fully
stocked kitchen, living area, emergency shelter, and outdoor space.

Oleksandra is making this new place a home for her family, spending
her days taking care of Andri, cooking with the other women in the
shelter, and watching the children play on the nearby playground.
 


Candelaria

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[ [link removed] ]For many women in Guatemala, work is scarce and marrying young is
common. But at a Mercy Corps-supported amaranth production facility in
Sololá, the majority of employees are women — 125 indigenous women of
the Kaqchikeles group.

Candelaria is a production technician and commercialization manager.
She oversees packaging, delivery, production processes, and education
about the health and medicinal benefits of amaranth.
   
Growing up with three brothers and five sisters, Candelaria saw
different expectations put on women compared to men. Women were not
given opportunities to work or take on leadership roles. Instead, they
were expected to cook, clean, and do other household work.

Candelaria is challenging gender norms by taking advantage of the job
opportunities that her mother didn’t have and volunteering to lead
workshops on women’s rights, violence, and discrimination to educate
others in her community.
 


When faced with some of the most complex challenges in the world —
conflict, poverty, discrimination — women rise up with strength,
determination, and perseverance. [ [link removed] ]Take a moment and send your message to
our women participants around the world to show your support.

Sincerely,

The Mercy Corps team

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