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

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Four students sit in a classroom, writing in notebooks at wooden desks. The room has a mix of brick and glass walls.
In Progress
Fund capital used

$2,670

The project is providing daily stipends for women enrolled in a literacy programme 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.

Students sitting at desks in a classroom, focused on writing during an exam. The room has wooden walls and large windows.
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.

Women seated at desks in a classroom, writing in notebooks. They wear colorful clothing and headscarves, with wooden walls in the background.
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 women can complete the full three-month courses 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.

Four students sit in a classroom, writing in notebooks at wooden desks. The room has a mix of brick and glass walls.
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

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

  • Women supported
    22
  • Women completing vocational training
    0
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