Help us to create real and sustainable

change through Land For Women!

 
We set up Legacy of War Foundation because we wanted to do things differently; to create a dynamic, uplifting, positive organisation that creates beneficiary led and localised solutions, to redress global inequalities. One of the lesser reported stories of survivors in conflict zones is the surge in female-headed households, where women are often caring for many dependents, without land, and with little hope for economic recovery.
 
Land for Women is our flagship project and we are thrilled to share with you our plans for its development. 
 
In 2019 we launched Land for Women, a unique program to promote the economic empowerment of women through land ownership and cooperative organic farming.

The project is designed to lift women, their families, and communities out of poverty; to protect the environment and promote sustainable management of natural resources; to build food security. 

Legacy of War Foundation aims to create projects led by women for their communities. The humanitarian sector has sustained the underrepresentation of women, but this new model will redress the power balance by placing women in leadership roles and putting women in control of productive resources; in order to achieve that, we need your support. 
 
By donating the amount of one coffee a week, you can help us create real change, so more women in Rwanda and other countries can re-empower themselves.

At Legacy of War Foundation, we are proud of the project and organisation we have created. In our last newsletter we set out our Ten Guiding Principals, Land for Women demonstrates how we are putting those values into practice.

A letter from PRIZE MAGEZI

Head of Land For Women Project

While interviewing female survivors of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda Giles, our CEO, met a small co-operative of women who were growing potatoes on rented land. He asked one of the survivors, Olive (now one of our patrons), how we could best support her and her community.

The answer was simple, “Give us the land to grow.”

And so in June 2019, Icyizere Ruhanga Cooperative, the first Land for Women co-operative farm was established. In January of this year, I joined the team to develop a model for expanding the project. For me, this was a very personal assignment. 

Five years ago I had an encounter with a woman in a Ugandan village who helped me to discover my passion. She invited me to speak to a group of rural women about nutrition and backyard gardening. Ten minutes into my hour-long session, it felt so right and fulfilling. I was right where I needed to be, doing what I loved; making a contribution to improve the lives of these women and their families through sharing my knowledge and skills. My life has never been the same, I knew this is what I wanted to do but I needed to figure out how. 

Land for Women provides me with the opportunity to do what I love; enabling and inspiring the lives of other women farmers in Africa.  In Rwanda, 80% of the female labour force is in agriculture, with the majority undertaking farming on rented land. Land for Women provides a new approach to this through buying land for the women to own and use for commercial farming. Ownership of land is an important source of security against poverty and is also a source of social and economic power. Through the Land for Women project, we hope to dismantle some of the barriers that hinder women’s success. 

Female empowerment is the best ever investment in the growth and development of nations. On my visit to our first Land for Women farm, I was delighted and inspired as the women brimming with newfound confidence narrated how, as landowners, they are now respected in their community. What a joy and privilege for me to be a part of that life-transforming manifestation! I am also really excited about our climate-smart, biodiverse farming model that promotes sustainable land use, environmental conservation and provides scope for each farm to be unique. I look forward to the priceless time I get to spend with the women on their farms being innovative, inspiring and getting inspired, supporting them, teaching and being taught, maybe even chasing the chickens……  and above all being part of the solution to the needs of women whose lives depend on the land.

On a personal note, LOWF sets a needed standard in the workplace through addressing the challenges faced by mothers with young children. In the past, being a mother has been held against me when it comes to opportunity in the workplace. On one occasion I was even kicked out of my masters program because I had a breastfeeding infant.

The Land for Women project gives me one of the greatest gifts I have ever received; to take care of my baby while continuing the work I am passionate about. It’s about simple solutions, such as recently when Legacy of War Foundation did more that just pay for my travel, they also covered the cost of a caregiver to watch my toddler whilst I was in the field doing my research. That was life transforming. With this approach, mothers like me are empowered to deliver both work and motherly roles without sacrificing the other.

At Legacy of War Foundation we believe that our first job is to create a fair an inclusive workplace. By empowering ourselves as a team, by building an organisation of diversity and by working for our beneficiaries; together we can create real change

Prize Magezi Land For Women Project Lead and Researcher

Prize is a management consultant, community nutrition facilitator and a passionate urban farmer. Her background in the healthcare industry, championing for global health equity.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations at Stellenbosch University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership.

Thank you for your support.

The team at Legacy of War Foundation.