Advancing the Biblical Basis for Women’s Equality in Sub-Saharan Africa
Since 2013, CBE has worked beside partners in Sub-Saharan Africa on projects that CBE would otherwise not be able to perform in advancing the biblical basis for women’s equality and shared leadership.
CBE is currently partnering with the following faith leaders, investing over $50,000 annually:
Deborah Asio is an organizational development professional with NGO experience who oversees CBE’s Africa partner projects. Deborah represents CBE and actively looks for opportunities to expand CBE’s social impact with new partners. Deborah holds workshops to train pastors, gives reproductive health talks to build girls’ agency as made in God’s image, provides Bible-based psychosocial support to women in refugee camps, and conducts male ally/champion classes so they can become Bible-inspired change agents to advocate with other men to end injustices to girls and women.
She Learns works with school-age girls and young women in Uganda. This year, they will conduct events that educate, equip, and empower young women and girls with the message of God’s heart for their equality, based on the following themes:
- Hope for village girls (4 villages)
- Who am I (discovering your true identity)
- Better together (championing girls to serve side by side with boys)
“We appreciate the generosity of all CBE donors for giving us the opportunity to reach out to people who are desperate and broken.
The poverty levels in villages have left many women and girls vulnerable to abuse and every form of ill treatment since there is a great power imbalance.
Male dominance in many homes has caused pain for many women and left girls as targets for predators.
We were able to reach out to a number of families. They were thankful and the girls and women were filled with hope.
Time spent in such areas are eye-openers and help lead the message of equality across Uganda and around the world.”
IFAGE (Institute for Faith and Gender Empowerment) promotes women’s equality and works with Christian communities to achieve gender justice in Kenya and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Their goals this year include:
- Meeting with pastors, chiefs, women leaders, and youths in small groups using CBE’s training materials.
- Preventing sexual and gender-based violence by training Kenya Anglican Men’s Association members.
- Planning a 2022 international conference in Juba, South Sudan, on “Faith, Peace, and Gender Reconciliation,” with over 200 key faith and political leaders, community influencers, development partners, and researchers.
On March 27, 2021, Rev. Canon Dr. Emily Onyango was consecrated as the first female bishop in the Anglican Church of Kenya
Rev. Domnic Misolo, Director of IFAGE, led the consecration planning committee.
“Emily is a long-time friend, CBE conference speaker, writer, and recipient of CBE’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
She has enriched our community with her advocacy and expertise on church history, gender studies, and African Christianity.”
-Mimi Haddad, CBE president and CEO
CoMaFo (Courtship and Marriage Foundation) confronts gender-based violence in Zimbabwe. This year’s goals include:
- Conducting joint workshops with the police departments’ chaplaincy to prevent and address gender-based violence and incorporate gender equality in marriage counseling.
- Staffing a newly established call center/clinic to counsel couples and prevent domestic violence.
- Conducting bi-annual youth workshops on social stresses, relationships, and gender-based violence.
- Training marriage counselors through marriage and family strengthening courses.
“The Commissioner General of the police authorized a partnership between CoMaFo and the police. So far, we have held two functions attended by pastors and chaplains from the police. During these conferences, we explored and assessed the realities of gender-based violence in the churches and in the police force, so we could craft relevant intervention measures.”
Please join us as we partner in this important work. Your support will make a difference in the lives of our sisters and brothers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Thank you for standing with us to give an equal voice to women around the world.
