Supporting women in Eritrea

A church group supported by CAFOD is helping women in Eritrea to play a greater role in decision making in their community.

Sister Efret Kiflom, General Secretary of the Diocese of Keren in West Eritrea [CAFOD]

Sister Efret Kiflom recently visited the UK and explained how the church group she works with – the Catholic Eparchial Secretariat of Keren (CESK) – was teaching new skills to women in remote areas of her country.

Traditionally, men earn the money and make the decisions in Eritrean society. However, many men have been living away from their homes for a long time because of a series of conflicts in the country. As a result, many women have been left alone to fend for themselves and their families.

Training improves lives

Sister Efret said that the women who have received training from CESK now felt less isolated.

“When the women come together they talk about themselves and share their problems,” she said.

“We asked them: ‘What do you think and feel when you meet in groups?’ and they said: ‘We are very happy to stay together because we share our problems.”

Around 900 women have benefited from training provided by eight outreach centres that teach them handicrafts, sewing, cooking and childcare.

Learning about HIV/AIDS

Sister Efret also coordinates a team of volunteers who raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and pay house-to-house visits to people affected by the virus.

They try to reduce the stigma associated with the disease and to nurture more understanding towards those affected by it, either directly or indirectly.

By visiting people and talking to them about HIV/AIDS, Sister Efret said people have become more open about the subject.

The talking cure

“Because of CESK’s work with the women, they feel they can trust us,” she said.

“When we go from home to home we explain that HIV is like other diseases and that they have to accept it.

“We train women to carry out training themselves. We explain how HIV is transmitted, how it can be prevented, how to be compassionate with the people who are sick, how to take care of them, and how to deal with the orphans.”

Providing education

CESK also supervises and provides teacher training for 20 primary schools, four junior schools and a high school, making education available to children in remote areas.

Sister Efret is pleased to work in partnership with CAFOD. On her visit here, she met a team of CAFOD school volunteers.

“They are trying to change how the world is,” she said. “The volunteers are teaching young children that if we share, there is enough for all. If they grow up with this knowledge, I think they could be very good people. So I would like to say to CAFOD go ahead with this work, and God bless.”

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