By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Losing a spouse is a deeply painful experience. The emotional toll can be overwhelming, leaving many feelings lost and unsure how to move forward.
While grieving is a natural process, some widows face additional hardships, including pressure from family members and the struggle to support themselves and their families.
Amidst the dark clouds, Sustaining Peace Foundation, established in 2019, is a beacon of hope for these vulnerable women. The foundation recognizes the unique challenges widows face and provides them with the tools they need to rebuild their lives.
Besides, the foundation empowers widows by offering them income-generating skills training. This equips them with the confidence and ability to become financially independent.
Linda Kekwi, the foundation’s founder, stated, “The success stories of these women are my greatest inspiration. Transforming widows into windows of blessings is our mission.”
Sustaining Peace Foundation’s impact is undeniable. Over 3,000 widows have received skills training, enabling them to contribute to their communities and build a brighter future.
Additionally, the foundation supports orphans by sponsoring their education and providing school supplies. The foundation has created a sustainable center that trains women for free.
However, Kekwi acknowledges the challenges they face. Many widows haven’t had the opportunity to develop business skills. The foundation adapts by recruiting experts in specific fields when needed, though this can be costly.
The Sustaining Peace Foundation’s vision extends beyond equipping widows with skills. They envision a future where these women are not just surviving, but thriving. They aim to see, “strong women healed from their past and empowered to contribute to sustainable development and peace building.”
“In addition to skills training, the foundation offers comprehensive support. This is through free health screenings for these women , ensuring their health is continually monitored,” she said.
Kekwi believes that by transforming widows to windows of blessings, this will help “women healed from their past and empowered to contribute to sustainable development and peace building within their communities.” These women, once burdened by grief, are transformed into pillars of their communities.
The path is not without obstacles. Many widows lack prior experience in running a business. The foundation addresses this by providing training, even going so far as recruiting experts in fields they are lacking in to train though expensive. Kekwi acknowledges, “We need a lot of resources to train the widows and orphans with skills.”
However, the foundation’s work requires ongoing resources to train more widows and orphans and expand their offerings. By empowering widows and orphaned children, the foundation believes in fostering not only individual growth but also contribute to the collective well-being of communities.
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