Empowering Women in India through Self-Help Groups
By Sushmita Mukherjee Global Communities believes in the power and potential of women’s collectives to bring about positive change. In India, PCI, a Global Communities Partner, is working to design and test community-based solutions that will make meaningful advancement toward gender equality. Specifically, we work with women’s collectives within the Self-Help Group (SHG) structure, nurtured…
Read MoreSupporting Economic Resilience through Increased Livelihoods in Sri Lanka
By Nagarajah Sathyaruban and Amila Jayamaha In Sri Lanka’s Mullaitivu district, a lack of job opportunities and career guidance avenues has contributed to a high youth unemployment ratio. For local youth, this has reinforced negative stereotyping, increased the risk of substance abuse and led to a sense of isolation and disillusionment, with ethnicity seen as a…
Read MoreUsing the New Digital Savings Group Hub to Eliminate Paper, Inspire Savings
Digitization can feel overwhelming — and even risky when considering inherent equity and access issues. Yet, with the right resources, organizations can go paper-free, or at least reduce that paper output, and save money in the process. We chatted with Paulina Rudnicka, Senior Technical Advisor for Gender Integration at Global Communities, about the launch of…
Read MoreResponding to Humanitarian Needs in Ukraine
Since the war began in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, an estimated 5 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries, while over 7 million people have been displaced inside the country in search of safety, protection and assistance meeting basic needs. As the scale of this humanitarian crisis continues to grow, Global Communities is working…
Read MoreGiving Kudumbimalai a Lifeline
By Rukshana Rizwie and Lizzie Hickman In Sri Lanka’s Batticaloa district, deep within the jungles of Koralai Pattu South, sits a village of abandoned wells — all deep, dirty and depleted. For many years, over 400 families living in Kudumbimalai had to drink and cook with contaminated water from the repositories, even though they knew…
Read MoreReflections on Programming Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact communities beyond what many thought would be a few weeks of quarantine. As we recognize the second anniversary of the pandemic, we reflect on Global Communities’ country teams that are hard at work to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on their communities. We were able to…
Read MoreGlobal Communities’ Response to Ukraine Crisis
For decades, Global Communities has responded to complex humanitarian emergencies. Our approach prioritizes partnering with affected communities to identify and address urgent needs with a focus on resilience and long-term recovery. In addition, Global Communities has worked in Eastern Europe for more than 60 years and has a deep understanding of the unique needs of…
Read More‘Mahila Mate’ Program Offers Ray of Hope for Gender Equality and Financial Equity in India
Rajkumari Pal is a mother of three in the Khatkhariya village of Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur district in India. Despite having a bachelor’s degree, she was unable to find work outside of her home. When Rajkumari’s husband lost his job as a computer operator at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple suddenly found themselves…
Read MoreSocial Media for Social Change – SCORE Leads the Way
Social media has emerged as one of the most powerful tools for communication and connection, bringing together millions of people across continents and within communities. But with that power, highly accessible channels are readily available for spreading disinformation, sowing divisiveness and contributing to offline conflict. In Sri Lanka, there has never been a more urgent…
Read MoreBreaking the Silence on Menstrual Hygiene in India
Menstruation is critical for the continuation of life on earth. Despite this being a natural process, it causes a severe hindrance in the growth and development of women and girls in our patriarchal society. Young girls are often told to discuss their period-related issues only with older girls or women, forming the impression that menstruation…
Read MoreRallying Mothers to Lead the Charge against Child Marriage in India
Naima*—now one of the most outspoken advocates for girls’ rights in her community—did not have an easy childhood. She grew up in Bokaro—a vibrant, cosmopolitan city in northeastern India, famous for one of the largest steel plants in Asia and often referred to as the “City of Scholars” for serving as an academic hub of…
Read MoreSCORE Facilitates Exhibition for 20 Women Entrepreneurs
SCORE worked in close collaboration with the Women’s Development Unit of the District Secretariat of Kandy to organize an exhibition showcasing the products of 20 women-led SMEs from all 20 District Secretariat Divisions in Kandy, at the District Secretariat premises on March 3, 2021. The exhibition was in celebration of International Women’s Day, under the…
Read MoreSCORE Supports Kandy District Secretariat to Celebrate Strengths of Diverse Women Marking International Women’s Day
By Kathya de Silva Senarath After months of close coordination between the Kandy District Secretariat and the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Activity (SCORE), the International Women’s Day celebration in the Kandy District kicked off on a grand scale at the Secretariat auditorium on March 9, 2021. The event was a celebration of womanhood regardless of…
Read MoreUS Ambassador to Sri Lanka Visits SCORE Activities in the North
“Proud to increase educational opportunities and support COVID-19 response in Sri Lanka” – Ambassador Teplitz By Kathya de Silva Senarath US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Alaina Teplitz, with US Embassy delegates, visited the North of Sri Lanka on February 23 and 24, 2021 to oversee the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Activity (SCORE) programs,…
Read MoreEmpowering Youth to Engage Meaningfully in Their Community
Originally published by USAID Meriton Binakaj is currently enrolled in online courses to finish high school. “I couldn’t have done it before since I had a long recovery period from my accident,” he says. Besides his high school classes, Meriton spends his time virtually participating in USAID’s Up to Youth activities. Since joining the older…
Read MoreKosovo Youth’s Newfound Life Skills Build Resilience in Their Communities
Originally published by USAID It is essential that Kosovo youth have the skills necessary to take part in Kosovo’s democratic and economic future. Acquiring soft and life skills helps youth become more resilient and makes it easier for them to form multi-cultural relationships and create trust between diverse communities. USAID’s Up to Youth activity provides…
Read MoreWidows in both North and South seek the truth
Dr. Dayani Panagoda says search for answers is not to put ex-Govt. in trouble By Hiranyada Dewasiri This article was originally published in The Morning. Dr. Dayani Panagoda is a Senior Technical Specialist for the USAID Social Cohesion and Reconciliation (SCORE) Program in Sri Lanka This week at a panel discussion on “Reconciliation at Practice”…
Read MoreEnhanced Well-being for Millions of Families in India
A Story of Transformative Integration at Scale A series of papers recently published in the Journal of Global Health tells the story of Ananya, an initiative launched in 2010 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in partnership with the Government of Bihar (GoB) and several global implementing partners, including Project Concern International (PCI). Ananya’s…
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