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EMBRACE
Nwami Isi Mkpe ("The Widow" in Igbo)
Widows Endowment
is a dual-focused initiative to support and protect widows by providing Emergent and Ongoing financial support. Continuity of housing and accessibility of food for children and older adults in the family can be a challenge for many widows.
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The initiative also endeavors to advocate for change and the protection of widows, as well as, cultivate and promote compassionate practices.
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Awareness
Around the globe, Women encounter Gender Inequity embedded in cultural and societal systems. More often than not, these systems are intentionally designed to subjugate women. Examples of inequity include limiting access to education, facilitation of disparities in professional compensation, little to no protection or recourse for sexual assault, and infant life expectancy (mortality). These are merely a few examples that lead to lasting effects on physical health, emotional and psychological wellbeing, academic achievement, and overall economic trajectory.
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In some situations, practices are perpetuated by women, as a result of misinterpretation and/or inappropriate application of cultural norms and practices.
EMBRACE Endowment and Initiative endeavors to address common practices which strip wives of housing and personal possessions after the passing of their husbands. Without provocation, and at times, in the face of unsubstantiated allegations, women have no protection nor recourse with local or traditional governments. These wives, their children, and older family members residing in the household are frequently pillaged and left destitute.
Action
As an Endowment, EMBRACE provides emergent and ongoing financial support to wives, to ensure the continuity of housing and access to food, for children and older adults who require care.
As an Initiative, EMBRACE has begun meeting with community leaders and stakeholders, as well as, traditional leadership, to explore gender inequity within the community, and to advocate for change and protection of wives. EMBRACE endeavors to collaborate with stakeholders to develop and promote compassionate practices
which honor women, children, and families.