Home
»
The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL)

The Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL)

A Longstanding relationship

Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada has had a longstanding relationship with the Catholic Women’s League of Canada (CWL). Since 1969, the League has been encouraging its members to contribute to the 1% National Voluntary Fund by allocating one per cent of the cost of all personal items they purchase and of the funds that CWL parish councils raise to support our organization and its partners.

This helps us and our partners support communities through training, resource management, health information and gender equality measures. Because this work is deeply rooted in the values of the Church, particularly the preferential option for the poor, the CWL has found that it “dovetails nicely” with its mission and values.

Improving the status of women

By helping sustain the efforts of Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada’s partners to improve the status of women in the Global South, 1% Program funding is having a real impact on the lives of women seeking a better future.

In the 2024-2026 period, the League is supporting two projects―one in the Sahel region and another in Somalia―that help women and young people stave off food insecurity.

What is the 1% Program?

One per cent may not seem like much, but it can make a big difference.

Since 1969, CWL members have been contributing to the 1% Program to support Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada projects for vulnerable women in the Global South.

By setting aside 1% of their expenses on personal items and of the funds raised by parish councils, CWL members have a real impact on the lives of thousands of women seeking social and economic justice for themselves, their families and their communities.

Together, we can make a real difference!

Projects supported by the CWL in 2024-2026

SAHEL (BURKINA FASO, MALI AND NIGER)

Because of conflict, climate change, environmental degradation, inflation and political and economic instability in the Sahel region, millions of people are facing food insecurity in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The project has restored over 200 hectares of degraded land in three countries.

Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is therefore running a broad-spectrum food, nutritional security and climate resilience project in these countries. Over five years (2021-2026), the Global Affairs Canada-funded project with four local partners will serve some 147,000 people (49 per cent youths; 81 per cent women) working in farming, livestock rearing and fisheries.

The project offers training in sustainable agricultural, forestry, pastoral and fisheries techniques and on food and nutrition policies; builds communities’ and local authorities’ capacities to manage natural resources sustainably and collaboratively; promotes community-led climate change adaptation initiatives; facilitates access to higher-value markets; and empowers communities through food policy advocacy.

Already, the project has restored over 200 hectares of degraded land by regenerating depleted forests in Burkina Faso; securing dunes to protect rivers and arable land in Mali; and revitalizing soils in Niger. With integrated income-generating components, these initiatives have improved the economic situation, food security and climate-resilience of peasant women and their families.

SOMALIA

In Somalia, the combined effects of conflict, drought and displacement have placed over 1.8 million children under 5 at risk of severe malnutrition. Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada is responding to this crisis with a three-year project, co-funded with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, in local partnership with Trócaire, the Irish member of the Caritas confederation.

In 2023-2024 alone, 22,562 people (63 per cent women and girls) will be served by the project.

In the Belet Hawa, Luuq and Dollow districts of Somalia’s Gedo region, the project is providing lifesaving nutritional services to children and pregnant and lactating women through fixed, mobile and outreach clinics. To ensure that malnourished children receive the best possible care, the project also offers childcare and nutrition tips and training to mothers and fathers.