Chronicle Editor
Ashley Phiri,
The Consecrated Work Trust (CWT), a Bulawayo faith-based organisation dedicated to empowering vulnerable populations, held a heart-warming celebration for International Widows Day on Friday in Sigola Village, Umzingwane District.
International Widows Day is a global awareness day that takes place annually on 23 June. The day was launched by the United Nations in 2010 to raise awareness of the violation of human rights that widows suffer in many countries following the death of their spouses.
In many countries with traditional societies, women find themselves left in poverty when their husband dies.
In some countries, these women find themselves denied inheritance and land rights, evicted from their homes, ostracised and abused. The children of widows also often find themselves affected, withdrawn from school and more vulnerable to abuse, especially in the case of girls.
International Widows Day works to encourage action in achieving full rights for widows, highlighting the need for more research and statistics into violence, discrimination and poverty suffered by widows and developing policies and programmes to address the problem.
The ultimate goal of the day is to develop resources and policies to empower widows and allow them to have access to education, work, healthcare and lives free of violence and abuse.
The event served as a dual purpose honouring widows and reflecting on the Trust’s own remarkable journey from humble beginnings to a thriving support system.
CWT founder and director Dr Angel Ndlovu reminisced how she started the project with nothing but faith and determination.
“I remember when I started this project I didn’t have much but I would save the little money that I had and every time a widow would visit me, I would give them some money from the savings,” she said.
“I continued doing this for a while until I felt in my spirit that I should start an organisation. I didn’t have anything but I registered the organisation in 2018 and we started our work in 2019.”
Dr Ndlovu said through dedication and hard work, the organisation continues to grow in leaps and bounds and impact the lives of widows in Bulawayo and Sigola with plans to extend to other areas in the future.
The event wasn’t just about CWT, it was a platform for the widows themselves to share their experiences. Through powerful testimonials, they spoke about how the organisation empowered them and improved their livelihoods.
CWT’s programmes have equipped these women with valuable skills, enabling them to become self-sufficient. The organisation has implemented a variety of income-generating initiatives, providing widows with the tools and knowledge to create their own opportunities.
These initiatives include the production of petroleum jelly, peanut butter, and dishwashing liquid. Additionally, CWT supports creativity by teaching widows how to create beautiful artifacts from recycled materials and indigenous plants like ilala.
One of the widows, Mrs Sheila Ndlovu from Sigola said through support from CWT, her life changed for the better.
“I remember when I first came across this organisation, I was on my way to sell brooms in the city and had left the grandchildren at home with nothing to eat. Someone told me some visitors were looking for me and I was angry to have been disturbed while I wanted to go and make money,” she said.
“However, I later realised that God had answered my prayers because that day I went back home with groceries, which I probably wouldn’t have afforded to buy with the proceeds from brooms.”
For the widows in Sigola, a thriving goat project has been a source of both financial security and a sense of community. During the celebrations, the women showcased their handcrafted products.
The event was a testament to the power of community and support. Sigola village head, Mr Maphenduka Ngwenya said CWT’s dedication to empowering widows has not only improved their lives but also fostered a sense of self-worth and entrepreneurship.
“I want to thank the trust for the work they are doing in our community. These projects not only help these individuals but they benefit the community as a whole,” he said.
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