Leading impactful women empowerment initiatives in India, Norway and Uganda, we celebrated the incredible work of Nirja, Kirstine and Gloriah during the annual Stop Hunger Event in April 2024. Across three different corners of the globe, each one is contributing to a hunger-free world, encapsulating our conviction that sustainable solutions to hunger are possible.
Gloriah Nandawula, and Lilian Nakigozi, the Co-Founders of Women Smiles Uganda, both lived through food insecurity in Uganda during their childhoods, they founded Women Smiles Uganda to empower women through urban permaculture. Their project trains women in environmentally friendly and resource-conscious vertical agriculture practices, providing women with the skills and knowledge they need to grow their own food in urban settings, improving the food security and economic independence of their families and communities.
By bringing together a community of women who are autonomous, entrepreneurial, and who drive resource preservation, Gloriah and Lilian are helping to create a better future for all.
Kirstine Holst, the inspirational founder of Moving Mamas provides a transformative training program to empower women.
Moving Mamas highlights and supports the resources that every unique Mama brings into their new home country, and also works to improve real inclusion in both businesses and society. This holistic approach equips the Mamas to build a better future for themselves and their families and helps businesses deploy sustainable actions with social impact. Sustainable practices are at the heart of Moving Mamas' philosophy. The program teaches women valuable skills like reducing food waste, preparing delicious vegetarian meals, and giving clothing a second life.
These diverse women come from a variety of backgrounds, but share the goal of achieving financial independence. Moving Mamas equips them with the tools and knowledge they need to launch their own businesses or secure employment.
In the Indian province of Maharashtra, Nirja Bhatnagar, National Director of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation brings together women around ecological farming practices based on the use of 100% local, untreated indigenous seeds. Together, they have identified 16 villages where they are developing responsible and inclusive agricultural systems. They have set up a bank of high-quality endemic seeds allowing farmers in the region to benefit from them for a symbolic sum. The use of these seeds makes it possible to produce diversified, climate-resistant, healthy and sustainable crops, making it possible to strengthen the resilience of the food system in the face of climatic and cultural challenges. They have also learnt to preserve the production, bringing food to the table all year long.
Through these practices, local women develop new skills and self confidence to become independent. The women use the fruits of their labour to meet the priority needs of their families.
Sulabh International was founded in 1970 by sociologist Bindeshwar Pathak, a Padma Bhushan recipient from the Government of India and a member of the 2003 Global 500 Roll of Honour.
