African Women Rising

African Women Rising African Women Rising (AWR) works to empower women in post-conflict areas to help rebuild their lives.

African Women Rising works to empower women in conflict and post-conflict areas to rebuild their lives through financial security, increased food production, and environmental restoration. Rooted in the conviction that women should be active stakeholders in defining their own development strategies, AWR builds on initiatives that women have started themselves. AWR supports long-term programs, acti

ng as a catalyst, facilitator, and critical source of encouragement to the 1,500 women currently enrolled in its programs. With the support of AWR, thousands of women are striving with dignity to overcome the devastating affects of war, and rebuilding healthy lives and productive livelihoods for themselves, their children, and their communities.

We have had problems with land wrangling, people tried to steal our land, and our son is in prison now because of it. My...
11/14/2025

We have had problems with land wrangling, people tried to steal our land, and our son is in prison now because of it. My husband is a good man; he is a primary teacher and very dedicated to his work. Being a member in this group means I can pay for school fees. African Women Rising have taught us many useful skills. My business is growing peanuts and soybeans. I’m holding on to what I harvested and only sell when the price goes up. I’ve bought solar lights, it makes it easier for the children to do their homework. We used to only have a flashlight and most of the time we didn't have enough money for batteries. I am the secretary of our group, and I like to think I am a good one. We support each other, we dance and laugh. My main business is farming – I have one acre of soy, last year got 360kg. It was a big increase from before I got the training in regenerative agriculture from AWR. I want to run for woman councilor in my parish in the upcoming election. I think I have skills that can benefit our community and that I can be the leader they need.
Christine, 50 years old, mother of 8 children, 4 died from malaria. Currently taking care of 3 grandchildren.

Photo by Brian Hodges Photography

What an incredible evening we had! Jackson Browne on the lawn by the garden. It was truly magical. So grateful to all th...
09/05/2025

What an incredible evening we had! Jackson Browne on the lawn by the garden. It was truly magical. So grateful to all the people who join us and raised over $300,000 for African Women Rising. Also very thankful for our community who worked hard to make this event come true. Special thanks to for donating wine, for bringing us a stage and lights, Trace Robinson for the flowers, and Zola Phillips for food and appetizers, all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this a success. Miss Allie and Zyrka were the magicians who made it all come together. 💕

What an incredible evening we had! Jackson Browne on the lawn by the garden. It was truly magical. So grateful to all th...
09/05/2025

What an incredible evening we had! Jackson Browne on the lawn by the garden. It was truly magical. So grateful to all the people who join us and raised over $300,000 for African Women Rising. Also very thankful for our community who worked hard to make this event come true. Special thanks to for donating wine, for bringing us a stage and lights, Trace Robinson for the flowers, and Zola Phillips for food and appetizers, all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this a success. Miss Allie and Zyrka were the magicians who made it all come together. 💕

It was only 3 years ago that we started talking about creating a demonstration, research and training farm in Palabek re...
07/25/2025

It was only 3 years ago that we started talking about creating a demonstration, research and training farm in Palabek refugee settlement camp. It’s truly amazing what has happened in this short period of time. Since 2023 we have trained 208 high level trainers in Resilience Design representing 54 local, regional and global agencies from 16 countries. The impact from our last training is massive. 51 people trained will directly train 5,918 field-based trainers. These trainers will reach 368,535 direct participants. The long term indirect reach is 1,263,922 people who will have improved nutrition and income.

The majority of women in AWR's programs are subsistance farmers. When they have access to capital and knowledge, they ar...
06/09/2025

The majority of women in AWR's programs are subsistance farmers. When they have access to capital and knowledge, they are able to increase yields beyond what they need for their own consumption. The additional harvest is sold and the income used to send children to school, pay for healthcare and build financial stability.

Photo by Brian Hodges Photography

Mary is one of close to two million refugees in Uganda. She was forced to flee from her home in South Sudan in the middl...
04/14/2025

Mary is one of close to two million refugees in Uganda. She was forced to flee from her home in South Sudan in the middle of the night as rebels attacked her village. It took Mary and the nine children in her care over a week to walk to Uganda. 4 of the children are hers and 5 belong to her sister who was killed. Life in Palabek refugee camp is not easy. Mary work as a day laborer to earn money to feed the children but there is rarely work available. African Women Rising started working with Mary a year ago and helping her start a garden that has over 30 different fruits and vegetables. The garden has made the family food secure. The income from the sale of vegetables pays for school fees and medical bills. “The garden has changed our lives” says Mary. “The children are healtier and we can afford to live better. Life here is difficult, the garden makes it easier.” Mary, 46 years old, South Sudanese refugee living in Uganda.

Photo by Brian Hodges Photography

Due to the dismantling of USAID, the World Food Program has lost 50% of its funding. This is leading to cuts in food dis...
03/21/2025

Due to the dismantling of USAID, the World Food Program has lost 50% of its funding. This is leading to cuts in food distributions in refugee camps all over the world. In Palabek camp, a place already struggling with malnutrition, this means people are now receiving only 22% of their nutritional needs. At the same time, many of the organizations working to fill that gap have lost their funding as well. AWR is doing all it can to fill that gap in Palabek, increasing programs that help people grow their own food. We need your help right now to prevent increased malnutrition and hunger.

Photo by Brian Hodges Photography

Happiness is having enough money to live with dignity. African Women Rising’s graduation program provides women with the...
12/18/2024

Happiness is having enough money to live with dignity. African Women Rising’s graduation program provides women with the tools and knowledge to be financially stable, food secure, able to send their children to school and access healthcare when needed. Your support makes it all possible. They can live with dignity.

Photo by Brian Hodges Photography

“Being a part of AWR is helping me with school fees. I pay for one child in high school and two in primary. I still have...
12/05/2024

“Being a part of AWR is helping me with school fees. I pay for one child in high school and two in primary. I still have one boy at home, I couldn’t afford to send him. They all used to stay at home. I have just started with AWR and can already pay fees for three. I know soon I’ll be able to earn enough to send all of them. The loans i have taken from the group have been so helpful and the AWR community mobilizers help us with business skills to make the money grow.” Cecerina, 60 years old, 9 adult children and taking care of 4 grandkids.



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“I came to this refugee camp six months ago. My husband is still in South Sudan. This place is not so good. Our house ge...
11/04/2024

“I came to this refugee camp six months ago. My husband is still in South Sudan. This place is not so good. Our house gets flooded when it rains, and the children get sick all the time. I got these bags of corn and beans yesterday. This food is supposed to last us for a month, it will maybe be enough for two weeks.” Nyatien, 26 years old, mother of six children.

AWR has been working in Palabek refugee camp since 2017. Our Permagarden program help women like Nyatien grow food so they can supplement the food they receive from World Food Program and become food secure.



Photo by Brian Hodges Photography

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801 Cold Springs Road
Santa Barbara, CA
93108

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+18052523645

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