Kwanda
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Supporting women’s livelihoods in Angola through vocational and literacy training

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In Progress
Fund capital used

$2,620

The project is providing daily stipends for 22 women enrolled in the Literacy Programme provided by Ella Africa Foundation in Luanda, Angola . Each participant receives £1.50 per training day for three months, covering transport and meals so that financial hardship does not prevent them from attending class. For many, this marks their first-ever opportunity to learn to read, write, and count, an essential step toward independence, confidence, and self-reliance.

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Local partner:
Samara Dias
  • Region
    🇦🇴 Angola
  • Sector
    Education
  • Stage
    Pilot
The Story

Across Luanda, thousands of women have grown up without the chance to attend school. Many people still struggle to read a medicine label, sign their name, or assist their children with homework.

This literacy project was started by community organiser Samara Dias, who founded the initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic after witnessing how quickly life unravelled for women without stable incomes or education. During that period, domestic violence surged, hunger deepened, and dependency cycles intensified, particularly among women living in poverty.

What began as small, community-based literacy and baking classes has since evolved into a structured programme offering training in literacy and vocational skills. Yet one barrier remains constant: the cost of attending. Transport and daily expenses often prevent women from participating consistently.

By providing stipends, the project removes this barrier entirely. For women living on the margins, £1.50 a day makes the difference between showing up and staying home. These stipends ensure that 22 women can complete the full three-month course without interruption, maintaining their focus on learning and personal growth.

Why this matters

Luanda is among the most expensive cities in the world, and women bear the brunt of its economic inequalities. Many are single mothers or survivors of domestic violence who have never had access to education. Illiteracy limits their ability to find formal work, manage household needs, or participate fully in community life.

This project tackles that challenge directly. Covering transport and meal costs enables consistent attendance and ensures that women can focus on their learning. The support recognises a simple but powerful truth: empowerment often begins with access.

Through this initiative, women are gaining the literacy and confidence they need to take control of their futures, engage in income-generating activities, and make meaningful contributions to their families and communities.

What the project is changing

For these 22 women, the project is unlocking access to education and opportunity. Instead of choosing between feeding their children and attending class, they can now do both. Over the course of three months, they are not only learning to read and write but also rebuilding their self-worth and reclaiming agency in their lives.

The impact extends beyond the classroom. As participants learn to read, they help their children with homework, manage small businesses, and engage more actively in civic life.

This initiative demonstrates that empowerment doesn't always begin with large interventions; sometimes, it begins with something as simple as a bus fare.

Technical stuff

The Details

  • Daily stipends (£1.50 × 60 days × 22 women)
    £1,980
  • Monitoring and reporting (documentation, photos, reports to Kwanda)
    £20
  • Total
    £2,000
  • Women able to attend full training due to stipends
    22
  • Total stipend days provided
    1,320
  • Attendance rate maintained above 90%
    Yes
  • Women completing vocational training
    22
  • Women reporting increased income or employment within 6 months
    50%
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