CARE

- She is the future of Africa and dreams of a bank, which gives her the world’s largest profit.

With support from the CARE Bank she receives knowledge and help to increase the food production with 20% - but she is completely dependent upon your help

The CARE Bank – the only bank for women in the poorest African countries that supports:

	Financing and training of savings- and loan- groups
	Water- drilling and health- and hygiene training
	Tree- planting to limit desertification.
	Improvement of agriculture and food production

CARE Norway gives priority to projects that:

- Emphasize women’s role in society and in the development process.

- Ensure food production and nature conservation.

- Work on help to self-help principle by building on the traditions, resources and needs of the local community.

- Give emergency aid in crises.

Why Africa

Most of us think of despair and suffering, bad governance and corruption when we think about Africa. But there are a lot of bright spots and there is hope for Africa. African women are strong and hard working. They like to take initiative, but due to their weak position in society, they have little influence, and are economically dependent on their husbands.

Agriculture is essential in the fight against poverty

Experience indicates that growth in the agricultural sector gives the best results in reduction of poverty.

African farmers are women

Women produce 80% of food in Africa. The CARE projects which are targetting women indicate that the crops increases by 7-22% when female farmers get the same education and attention as men. If training- and development opportunities for African women do not radically improve, the food situation in Africa will continue to worsen.

CARE – one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations

CARE is a politically neutral and non confessional humanitarian organization working with development- and emergency- relief projects in about 25 countries, with a focus on Africa. CARE Norge is a member of CARE International, which has more than 60 country offices in the world, and can benefit from the expertise of a wide professional network

CARE gives priority to long-term humanitarian aid that goes directly to the poorest.

The participants in our projects - primarily women - also get organizational training, and training in conflict resolution and democratic processes, as well as financial support. This enables them to take charge of their own lives

This is some of the results from the CARE Bank in the village of Tchido in Niger, with 600 inhabitants:

	Well
	Cereal bank
	Savings- and loans group
	Planting of 3000 trees
	The women have learned new methods of cultivation
	New methods in livestock management
	Health- and hygiene- training
	Center for alphabetization
	The women are now active in the decision making process and have control over their own economy.

Help to self-help – it is worthwhile!

Hawa is married and the mother of five children.

She has participated in one of the CARE Bank’s projects.

“The CARE Bank is the answer to my prayers. After the arrival of CARE, the entire life in the village changed. In our village CARE is looked upon as a mother for the most vulnerable. I am a member of the board in the cereal bank. Since I have learned how to read and write, I am a secretary in the savings- and loan- group, where I also get management training. Every year we cultivate a piece of land together. The quality of fertilizer and seeds have improved and the crops have increased.”

If training- and development opportunities for African women do not radically improve, the food situation in Africa will continue to worsen! Our goal is to mobilize an additional amount of 5 million NOK. The funds are directed via the CARE Bank to projects in Africa in order to give African women the support they need.

CARE Focus on Niger:

Reki Moussa is the coordinatore of CAREBank in Niger