For too many women and children living in poverty, life is a daily struggle for survival.
In the Central African Republic (CAR), 3 in 4 women can't read or write. They're denied an education. Denied jobs. Denied the one thing every mother wants most of all: the chance to create a better future for her children.
‘When a woman does not have access to education… it is the root of poverty.’
'Paying for my children's school fees is really hard. I don't have enough to support my family.' - Davilla, Central African Republic. Image credit: Elijah Muweza/Tearfund
Every mother wants to create a good life for their children. But what if you had to choose between feeding your child or sending them to school?
This is the painful reality for too many women around the world. Like Davilla, a 28-year-old mother of two, who lives in the Central African Republic.
'Sometimes, I feel overwhelmed by life's hardships,' she says. Growing up in her brother's home, she had to drop out of primary school to do housework. Denied an education, and now with children of her own, she is stuck in the grip of poverty.
Davilla bakes and sells cakes to earn an income, but it's not enough. 'Some days, sales are poor. Every day, I worry for my children. What will I feed them, how will they go to school, and what will their future hold?' she asks.
Davilla signed up for literacy classes at a local women's association, supported by Tearfund. 'I was taught the alphabet and how to write my full name. I'm learning to read, write, and count, which is really important when you have a small business.'
Education unlocks so many opportunities. But for Davilla and so many women like her, they simply can't afford it.
Josseline, 55, also attends the literacy classes. 'I work hard, but life is harder,' she says. 'I struggle to provide for my children and relatives.' She currently sells soup at the local market but is determined to create a better life for her family.
With your support, more women around the world can continue their learning through Tearfund's programmes, and create a better life for their children.
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