For Women by Women......

This right here is a group of AMAZING women!

The women had to pass a verbal test- they did it in groups!

Sagnarigu Shea butter Centre
“The importance of a shea butter centre for women by women in the Northern Region”

The Sagnarigu women’s centre is located in the outskirts of Tamale. The centre is currently Pagsungs largest centre and has become one of the main hubs among all 18 processing centers. During the year women who are members of pagsung from the area use the centre to process their shea products (both butter and soap). Being that Pagsung’s mandate is to "empower rural women in Northern Ghana gain sustainable livelihoods through shea butter processing"- its doors are not limited to members of Pagsung.
Pagsung President, Women who trained and the supervisor of the UNFPA Ghana program and Me!

Pagsung recently opened its doors to survivors of Fitsula taking part in a UNFP (United Nations Population Fund) program. The program utilized Sagnarigu processing centre and its valued volunteers in order to train the women in proper shea picking, processing and packaging. This income generation training served as the final part in the UNFP program which worked with survivors of Fistula to eliminate the stigmatization of the disorder- by empowering women to become advocates and self-sufficient members within their communities. Shea butter centers such as Sagnarigu play key roles in providing a positive learning environment for rural women in Northern Ghana to regain their independence through learning and utilizing tangible skills.

Women from the belipila community took part in the three day training on shea butter processing. The women learned how to properly pick and process butter, and have taken these skills back to their respective communities in order to begin their own generation of income through Shea processing in their villages. Sagnarigu centre has enabled these women an open space to ask questions, voice concerns and learn from each other. The centre has enabled them to feel a sense of self-worth something many of them have struggled with due to the stigmatization of Fistula. Sagnarigu, serves as a space for women in Ghana to reach their potential through learning and experiencing the empowerment of women by women.
When I asked Sanatu Alhassan how long she had suffered from Fistula she was unable to remember the number of years but responded by explaining it was during the Kofi Abrefa Busia regime. I later realized that was 41 years ago. Imagine living with an uncontrolled balder for 40 years shunned from your community.

Ms. Alhassan participated in the shea butter training in order to go back to her community and become a contributing member to her family- through the sales of shea.
The women were able to showcased their hard work in an exhibition organized by UNFP Ghana to bring key political actors and stakeholders together to work on the eradication of Fistula which was eradicated in the western world at the end of the 19th century.
The women were so proud of their hard work and have become key advocates in their communities in educating women on Fistula.

Interested in finding out more about Fistula? Check out: endfistula.org