A Year Of Milestones
The year 2022 was filled with many milestones for G&N. From organizing multiple grass-roots initiatives in Mukombami that empowered local women and nurtured their entrepreneurial spirit to partnering with local organizations to encourage team sports for young girls - it was never a dull moment! Through fundraising initiatives such as Cocktails for a Cause, Fashion for a Cause & government grants among others, G&N has been able to raise funding, which will be used towards ramping up activities in 2023.
In May 2022, G&N ran a pad sewing workshop that was attended by over 20 women and girls in the community over the course of 5 days. The workshop helped foster an entrepreneurial spirit among the women and G&N will be hiring two of the women to develop the first pads in Mukombami in 2023.
In the second half of the year, G&N ran a a series of workshops on financial literacy, the basics of starting and running a business and marketing. These workshops have been attended by over 300 women to date. At the end of the year, G&N evaluated over 140 applications to a micro-granting program, which is giving women micro-grants from USD$150 - $500 for a total of $10,000.Thirty-seven women were selected for grants from all the applications and have begun their entrepreneurial journeys!
Through our partnership with the Rozaria Memorial Trust we invited 15 girls from the Mukombami primary school to participate in the 3rd annual mega Nhanga! RMT is also providing 500 girls educational programming targeted at eliminating child marriage and empowering young girls in rural communities. The program spans 2022 into 2023 and we cannot wait to share all the activities the girls take part in.
G&N hosted a series of fundraising events in 2022, which has helped support our mission.
Grant from GCC Canada! A grant from Grand Challenges Canada. Early in 2022, G&N received news that it was the recipient of a grant of over $90,000 from Grand Challenges Canada. Throughout the year, G&N has been able to do more than it could do before with the support of GCC.
Fashion for a Cause. G&N held its inaugural Fashion for a Cause Winnipeg. The event was a resounding success, raising over $3,000 for G&N’s programming in Zimbabwe and raising awareness about menstrual rights. All the models for the event were grandmothers from all over the African continent who modelled their favourite glamorous and traditional outfits. The event which honoured the women who participated also honoured the two women for whom G&N was founded – Grace & Nelly, who started the organization’s journey by spending their lives supporting the women and girls in their communities.
Walk For a Cause. President and Founder, Ruvimbo Chimutsa joined Immaculate Nabisere of Migrant Stories in a walk from Emmerson Manitoba to Winnipeg (roughly 100km) to raise awareness about period poverty and the struggles migrants face in search of a better life.
Healthier Happier Periods at the Markets. G&N participated in several markets in Winnipeg, Including the annual vegan festival (VegFest) held at the University of Winnipeg, and the annual South African BBQ. G&N volunteers spread the word about menstrual rights and sold pads and AfriFest t-shirts, all to fund G&N's continued activities! Healthier Happier Periods will be at these markets again in 2023 so we hope to see you there!