1. Home
  2. \
  3. Global Issues
  4. \
  5. Women
  6. \
  7. Empower a woman like Oliva

Your support for women like Oliva means action, creating lasting change and building brighter futures.

Donate Now

This year alone, there are estimated to be 388 million women and girls worldwide living in extreme poverty.

Your generosity can truly make a difference by:

Enriching young minds with literacy and numeracy skills, beneficial in finding future employment

Providing necessities, including access to clean and safe water, and food for nourishment

Funding shelters that provide food, accommodation, counselling, legal assistance, and referrals to other services, including health and education, for women and children survivor of violence

How Oliva’s life transformed

Oliva, a 22-year-old woman living in Tanzania with her husband, two young sons and an adopted niece and nephew, didn’t have the opportunity to go to school growing up - and was embarrassed that she couldn’t read, write or count.

Around 25 per cent of Tanzanian girls and women over 15 years cannot read or write, with many families unable to afford school fees or uniforms. Now, as an adult, Oliva runs a kiosk and works as a farm labourer - but her business was losing money because she learnt any numeracy skills.

Then Oliva enrolled in Caritas Australia-supported literacy and numeracy classes. She also set up a classroom at home to teach her neighbours for free because they were too shy to attend larger classes. 

Oliva collecting grain in Tanzania

Oliva has now graduated, as have some of her students.

Attendance at her classes is growing, her kiosk is thriving, and she can help her children with their homework. She aims to become a pastor and run for leadership in the next local election.  

“I am proud to be a teacher who helps others to achieve their dream,” 

Oliva Thumbnail

Oliva

Your support is lifesaving for people experiencing poverty. Please help more people like Oliva to access the education they need to transform their lives.

Donate Now
Donate Now

What can we help you with?

Speak with us

Call our Supporter Services team for assistance. Our lines are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST.

1800 024 413

Contact Caritas Australia

Send us an enquiry and we’ll be in touch. We’d love to hear from you!

Contact Us

See our FAQs

Visit our FAQ page to learn more about the work of Caritas Australia and find answers to our most frequently asked questions.

FAQs

Donate now to provide support where it's most needed today

Donate Now