Edisa (19) is Using Her Newfound Craft to Reclaim Her Future
War Child's programme helps young women like Edisa develop technical and vocational skills and explore different crafts
Living in Insecurity
“I left Burundi with my parents in 2016 to escape the insecurity following the 2015 elections”, says Edisa. “My dad was poisoned and died here in the camp only a few years later.
“Life has been tough for as long as I can remember. I felt particularly vulnerable because my husband wasn’t working and the three of us [Edisa, her husband and two-year-old son] were dependent on rations from the World Food Programme (WFP).”
Hunger and Frustration
Edisa worked long hours in the fields, earning the equivalent of about $1 a day. “There were even days when I got no work at all”, she adds. “I felt useless to my community. Because everything fell to him, my husband would sometimes get angry and insult me.”
Struggling to provide for her son and contribute to her family, Edisa's confidence quickly plummeted. One day, after an arduous day in the fields, things looked set to get even worse. “I came home, shaken”, she recalls. “We realised the food rations weren’t enough to see us ‘til the end of the month.”
By selling the baskets in her community, Edisa is developing the skills to one day manage her own business
Edisa joins a group of young refugee women to hand weave colourful baskets
Basket Weaver
The War Child programme helps young women like Edisa develop technical and vocational skills and explore different crafts. We also support youth by connecting them to their community and the local job market. “Growing up, I didn’t get the chance to study much”, says Edisa. “So, I was delighted when I was able to follow a training in basket weaving.”
It went well and, a year later, Edisa began delivering the training sessions herself. “I support new learners and also sell the baskets locally - enough to meet my basic needs.”
Participants have the option to follow entrepreneurship and business skills training. Edisa: “I’m currently developing a plan to manage my own business. I now know, for example, that I need to have three funds: one for my business, one for my personal and family expenses and a third for my savings - the ‘you never know’ fund.”
Voice in the Community
Edisa's newfound skillset isn’t just improving her career prospects, it’s also helping her find her voice - both at home and in her community.
“I feel more loved and considered by my husband”, she says. “I feel useful at home because my husband now asks for my opinion.”
As for her community, they are also taking note. Edisa: “I am invited to meetings with partners where women's empowerment and participation issues are discussed. More and more, people want to hear my point of view.”
