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Why Zimbabwe’s Economic Crisis Should Be A Women’s Issue
Since 2016, Zimbabwe’s economy has been in recession. But it’s been in trouble for much longer—over fifteen years now. Though the cash shortages brought on by the crisis are tough on everyone, there’s one group of people who bears the brunt of the burden: women. According to The World Post, women often wait for hours…
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The 6 Biggest Obstacles I’ve Faced in Getting an Education
The road to my educational success has not been easy, and even today I face many challenges. But I still dream to acquire an education and change not only my path, but also that of my family and my community in Zimbabwe. My dream encourages me to take steps to reach my vision of success…
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Why It’s Essential to Keep Mapuche Art Alive
Our work in Southern Chile primarily focuses on women who are part of Chile’s largest indigenous group: the Mapuche. Meaning “people of the Earth,” the Mapuche resisted Spanish conquest and still today have maintained many aspects of their culture in the face of assimilation. That’s just one of the reasons why in addition to providing…
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Staff Portrait: Meet Victoria, SKImfi Zimbabwe Communications Intern
SKIC’s Zimbabwe-based communications intern, Victoria, on what her role is like: What is your role at SKImfi? I am a communications/operations intern at SKImfi and I assist with keeping the records of the beneficiaries, ensuring that they comply with SKImfi rules and regulations, and compiling reports on the progress of their projects. What does a day…
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7 Sexist Comments I Hear—And What I Say in Return
Precious Ngwayarudza, a native of Zimbabwe, shares some of the comments she’s heard as single woman pursuing education—and her strategies for combatting casual sexism: Why are you obtaining a Masters degree? Don’t you know that you will never secure a job in Zimbabwe? Learning is my passion. As long as I have the funding to continue…
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What Women’s Empowerment Means to Me
Growing up, I was the firstborn girl in a family of five children and a victim of a patriarchal society in Zimbabwe. But I had to set a precedent. I vividly recall taking up menial jobs in the neighborhood to supplement my school fees—my father’s risky job and meager salary were not sufficient for our…
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Meet AWA, an Inspiring Female Force Coming out of Zimbabwe
One of the biggest reasons that SKIC put down roots in Zimbabwe is because female disenfranchisement is rampant and the availability of micro-finance loans does not meet the demand. The marginalization that women in Zimbabwe face is not often talked about – both within the country itself and on a more global scale. Meet AWA,…
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Life After SKIC: What Our Veterans Are Up To
On the SKIC blog, we spend a lot of time talking about our new recruits—the women who have just decided to take on a SKIMFI microloan to transform their business, or maybe venture out to start a new business altogether. We’re always excited when new women join the program, but what about the women who…
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How We Narrow Our Approach to Maximize Our Impact
“Less is more” is one of those oft-repeated sayings that, well, can get old. It’s trite, simple, and something we’ve all heard on countless occasions. It feels silly sometimes to bring up in conversation – but it’s often wildly true and important to keep in mind in both our personal and professional lives. When SKI…
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Here’s What’s Happening At Our Zimbabwe Sites
In our last blog, we updated you on the #SKIC women of Chile (who are thriving in our SKImfi and SKILLS programs!) Now, our founder, Shyam, has been visiting our sites in Zimbabwe, and we have more exciting updates about our beneficiaries on the other side of the world. Thanks to our SKImfi manager, Beatrice,…