This Christmas, please help women and girls survive violence and displacement – and build new futures.
For many people Christmas is a time of joy, celebrating the festive season with family and friends. But, for thousands of families living through conflict, violence and displacement, this Christmas will be about survival.
Can you make a special Christmas gift to help women, girls, and their communities, survive violence and displacement?
Your generosity will help our brave, local staff provide urgent safe spaces, income support, counselling and leadership skills to women in crisis.
“I don’t know what’s in our future. But I know there are people here who could help. After all we’ve been through, I’ll do anything to make sure my children are safe and have a future.” – Arida
Arida’s journey: from violent trauma to hopefully, a bright new beginning
Arida is a 35-year-old mother who earlier this year was forced to flee her home in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to the ongoing devastating conflict.
Arida’s life changed forever when one day her home was invaded, and her husband was murdered right before her eyes. Somehow, Arida and her children manged to escape and make the marathon journey on foot over the border into Uganda with no belongings or food.
Arida, and other women like her, are now living in a place called Rhino Refugee Camp in Uganda. Here, they have access to basic needs, food and shelter. And although life is still a real struggle, there’s one game-changing positive – they now have the chance to get the key expert supports they need through ActionAid.
How your support will make a crucial difference this Christmas
Many other women like Arida in the Rhino Refugee Camp have had similar traumatic experiences. The journey to safety is treacherous – 1 in 5 women refugees have experienced sexual violence. When they find a new place to survive, women face discrimination, limited access to education, unemployment and poverty. With little chance to earn a living, find or buy food, and get basic needs for their families, women need both emergency, and longer-term, support.
Since 2018, ActionAid has been working hard in Arida’s refugee settlement and in other camps in northern Uganda. Last year, we helped support over 21,000 women in the region.
With your support, we can help women and girls access their basic needs for food and healthcare. We can provide Safe Spaces, support groups and counselling for women and girls fleeing violence. But we can also work with women to help them take control of their future through training and education, as well as by supporting them in new livelihood options such as baking, tailoring, and soap-making.
Can you support women and girls like Arida to transform their lives into confident leaders and change-makers?
The Power of your gift this Christmas
Your gift will help families who are suffering right now in Uganda, but you will also be helping women, children and families around the world facing appalling emergencies or conflict. Through the brave frontline work of ActionAid staff and partners this Christmas, we’re on the ground providing critical aid to displaced people in Gaza, Lebanon, Uganda and other areas of urgent need around the world.
In a year that has witnessed such horrific and unrelenting violence will you make your amazing kindness count with a heartfelt and impactful gift?
Please make a special Christmas gift to help women, girls, and their communities survive violence and displacement.
