MADRE Statements

Women in Sudan uniting to provide for their families and their communities

Posted on: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Keywords: Sudan, Africa, Economic Justice, Environmental Justice, Climate Change

During the last farming season, MADRE and our sister oganization, Zenab for Women in Development, coordinated the delivery of sorghum, millet and peanut seeds to hundreds of Women Farmers' Union members in Gungulesa, Guregana and Um Khanjar, Sudan. That support was more important than ever because the cash-strapped Ministry of Agriculture did not distribute seeds this year.

During a recent visit to the MADRE office, Fatima Ahmed, director of Zenab, described the many contributions that women farmers have made to their families and communities thanks to your support of the Women Farmers Union.

First of all, their families and communities are eating the plentiful, organic crops grown by the Women Farmers' Union. In addition, many of the farmers have used income from their crops to cover the costs of uniforms, books and transportation to send their daughters and sons to school. Without the support that MADRE and Zenab provided, many of these children would not have been able to attend school.

In one community where women’s illiteracy has been estimated at 95 percent, union members refurbished a classroom for women to use for adult education. In another community, women farmers are contributing funds to bring electricity to their community.

Fatima stressed how important the Women Farmers Union has become for the women in each of these communities. They send their thanks to MADRE members for making this important work possible.

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