The Women's Initiative: Inspiring The Next Generation To Follow Their Dreams

by Lucas Barrow-Townsend

The Women’s initiative’s story is beautiful. A tale of dreams come true, overcoming inherent challenges and obstacles along the way.

Isatou and the Women's Initiative

“She faced 3 challenges to her dream, she was young, she was small, and she was from a poor family. Yet none of that stopped her. Now because of her work, some of the next generation can follow their dreams”Isatou

The Women’s Initiative was founded and ran by the inspirational Isatou, who we had the great pleasure of meeting recently, and feel privileged to have raised 8000GMD through Growing A Green Gambia (the monthly eco-event held in Gambia). It is safe to say we loved her straight away.

Some of the Women's initiative's recycled products

She was friendly, bubbly, and warm spirited, and upon entering her compound near coastal road in Gambia, we found some of the lovely women (and men) making their crafts, art, jewellery, and furniture…all made entirely out of waste materials, just so you know.

Some of the Women's initiative's recycled products

The women’s initiative is not just about recycling, nor is it just about their products, it is about inspiring and empowering women to create their own livelihood and giving them support and guidance on their path to financial independence. In a snapshot… The Women’s Initiative is about inspiring the next generation to follow their dreams, just like Isatou did.

Some of the amazing people at the Women's Initiative

The support Isatou offers is just amazing. Each of the women who creates the products has access to a bank account (not a very common thing here in The Gambia), 10% of their earnings is automatically saved, and in order to access that money, they have to show and tell Isatou exactly why they need the money. This way the women cannot ‘eat the money’, which is very common in The Gambia, and they will have access to funds if/when something bad happens.

We want to help this amazing initiative and incredible woman because even after 20 years, they still face huge challenges, especially in the last year due to you know what. What we want to do is simple, we want to give them access to the WORLD. Soon you will be able to find a lot of their 100% recycled products on our website, with their story, and of course 100% of the sales will go straight back to the Women’s Initiative.