MU equipping women leaders through faith, skills and digital learning

Mothers’ Union is continuing its work to strengthen leadership and opportunities for women through a new project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), supported by a grant from Trinity Church Wall Street.

Trinity’s grant making is supporting creative leadership and empowering Anglican churches to carry out their ministry across the world. The funding MU received will be used to establish digital learning hubs across dioceses in the DRC, equipping hundreds of women leaders with the skills and confidence to lead within their churches and communities, and in Year 2 to expand the programme into 3 other countries.

In March, a ‘training of trainers’ session was led by Naomi Foxwood, Leadership Programmes Manager at Mothers’ Union, and Marthe Vira, Provincial Community Development Coordinator. Due to logistical challenges, the session was held in Uganda, bringing together MU leaders from four dioceses in the DRC. The gathering provided an opportunity to test the leadership curriculum, explore what makes effective leadership, and build confidence in using the technology that will support the programme.

This initiative responds to two key challenges. Digital literacy remains a significant barrier for women, with the World Bank reporting that women in Sub-Saharan Africa are 36% less likely to use mobile internet, and 28% less likely than men to own a smartphone.* This gap is not just about a lack of tech devices; it includes a lack of skills, high costs and social barriers that can hinder women’s participation in society, the job market and the economy. Whether it be promoting a small business on Facebook, accessing material online to help teach Sunday school, or being able to contact people through email or Zoom, digital skills build confidence and opportunity.

At the same time, many women are already stepping into leadership roles within churches and their communities, particularly after completing MU’s literacy course. However, they often have not had any leadership training. Mothers’ Union’s ‘Empowered to Lead’ course seeks to bridge this gap, combining practical leadership skills and techniques with a strong biblical foundation and participatory learning. Drawing inspiration from figures such as Mary Sumner and Queen Esther, the course is designed to be both relevant and transformative.

Naomi commented ‘the pilot with DRC is an exciting programme to equip and empower women to make a difference in their lives, their families, communities and churches. The training of trainers in March was a brilliant time together to test the material and learn about the elements of great leadership.’

Marthe also stressed the importance of the digital leadership programme, saying ‘today a woman without a telephone is like a battery without power.’ Through access to devices and connectivity, women are gaining new opportunities to learn, lead, and connect.

Following the training, participants have now returned to their dioceses to establish digital hubs supported by Starlink and prepare the first cohort of 100 women to begin the programme. This pilot marks an exciting step forward, with plans to expand the project into other countries, continuing to equip women to make a lasting difference for generations to come.

 

* Reference: Analyzing the gender digital skills divide in sub-saharan africa: current state and contributing factors