Education is not a
silver-bullet solution
At Komera, we know that education will not provide everything she needs. When a young woman is selected into the Komera program, so is her family. In order to engage in supporting a young woman, we must also include her family and the community. We hope to change the narrative for everyone.
Komera Parent and Guardian Cooperative
Our investment goes beyond each individual girl; it includes her family as well. We hope to ignite sustainable growth and economic stability for each scholar and her family. Upon acceptance into Komera, the parents and guardians of each scholar are invited to join the Komera Parent and Guardian Cooperative, where they gain business skills, financial advice, and join a specific cooperative that strengthens their voice and spending ability.
Parents are advocates for girls in our community, and are leading the way in addressing sensitive cultural norms that limit opportunities for girls. The cooperative members save money together to launch small businesses, and Komera provides training for them to become savvy business owners. The cooperative has grown to over 100 parents and 50 business ventures boasting some impressive results for the community.
91% have seen improvement in their families through:
o Constructing new homes or rehabilitating old homes
o Building sanitary facilities like toilets and washing stations in their home
o Building a safe, clean kitchen cooking space
o Installing solar on their homes for electricity
o Purchasing animals and land
85% of parents have been able to send additional children to school or support additional children with required school materials and supplies
91% of parents saw an increase in health and wellbeing of their entire family based on:
o Ability to purchase health insurance and receive medical care
o Eating a more balanced diet and benefiting from a consistent food supply
97% are more involved in the lives of their children in school and at home
The Komera Cooperative is completely led by Komera guardians and parents. Growth over the past ten years has been incremental and is proof that we need to engage communities including men and boys in the development narrative for girls. Learn more about Jean Baptiste and his journey with Solange here!
NaBacu Program - engaging in community dialogue through sport
In order to address social norms concerning women and girls, Komera staff work with the broader community. We do this through community sporting events where people gather to have fun, develop community and learn. Parent groups present theatre pieces around issues that are concerning them and create a community dialogue.
Some of the subjects of concern are how to support adolescent mothers, address gender-based violence in the community, and build gender equity.
Primitive, mother to Komera scholar Marta, spoke about being in the Nabacu program, “I gained self-confidence, even though I never went to school. I don’t let this prevent me from participating in community meetings and speaking up to ask questions.” Read Primitive’s story >