Women's projects

Women bear the greatest burden in Malawian families. It is estimated that they do twice as many hours work each day as men. In addition to bearing on average five children, women are expected to care for children, prepare food, fetch wood and water and cultivate maize gardens. The increased availability of water supplies and mills to grind grain has helped ease the burden in some areas, but the cultural acceptance that domestic tasks are a women's role, and that they automatically know how to do them without assistance, dies hard.

However, classes in basic literacy, hygiene, child health and craft skills are becoming available to women offering them the empowerment they need to challenge such cultural norms. There is a great need for more opportunities to be provided for small groups in the villages as it is difficult for women to leave home and family for hours let alone days.

Community Development Officers, church centres and NGOs are taking the initiative in encouraging women to take a more active role in community affairs and to learn skills to start up small businesses to boost family income. There is considerable enthusiasm for taking advantage of these opportunities and, where possible, MACS encourages such efforts.