At HOCIC, we firmly believe that empowered women are the key to community development. That’s why, alongside our Self-Help Group initiatives, we also equip our members with advocacy skills to amplify their voices and drive positive change.

The SHG women and youth have formed advocacy committees called Cluster Level Associations (CLAs), which have been instrumental in addressing critical local issues. Through persistent dialogue and negotiation with community leaders and stakeholders, they have secured tangible improvements in public service delivery.

One of their biggest wins has been the enhancement of mobile health clinic operations in Umguza wards. The advocacy efforts ensured the clinics started offering ART refill services, making crucial healthcare more accessible. The women also lobbied the authorities to allocate land for the construction of new clinics, even contributing household funds to kickstart the process.

This is just the beginning. Our SHG advocates are now tackling other community challenges, from securing identity documents to improving infrastructure. By cultivating a culture of active citizenship, we’re empowering rural women to own the development process in their communities.