Since I was a young child, I always knew I wanted to follow my mother's path and work in garment making. But I didn't anticipate how far my journey would bring me. Now, my business employs hundreds of women. Recent improvements in productivity, occupational safety, and social policies have created a working environment that benefits both our staff and our customers.

When I was about six years old, my mother set up a small workshop in our home to make garments that she sold to local department stores.

Even though the workshop was small, a few other women worked alongside my mother there. They were like my aunties. Some of them took me to school or picked me up from school. We ate together. We did everything together. We were like a family. That's how I first saw the garment manufacturing industry.

Back then, I would get up every morning and go to sit in the workshop. I would stand behind the industrial sewing machine and try to sew and, every few months, I would end up with a needle in my finger and need to go to hospital.

My mother told the other workers: "don't allow her inside the workshop". But I always got in somehow.

Through my business, I see the value of investing in women

I was in my early twenties when I started making clothes myself. At that time, the customers would come with their fabric, and I would design and make clothes to fit them. Everything was custom-made.

I did that for four or five years before some customers started suggesting that I should produce on a larger scale. Then one day, some expatriate customers said that I should attend a trade show in the United States.

It sounded like climbing the tallest mountain in the world. But it wasn't impossible.

At the time, I was a member of the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs and they helped find funding for me. So, I took a bold step, and I went to a trade show.

There was no ambiguity about what I was going to do as an adult. My mother was quite bold, so I think I must have gotten that from her. (Ghana, 2024)

During the trade show, one client came to my booth and said: "I love this dress, but I need 100 pieces." I was totally unprepared. I was shocked that somebody could actually ask me for 100 dresses.

In the booth next to mine, there was a lady from Thailand. I told her about the request. She replied: "What did you think you were coming here to do?" Then, she offered to help me produce the order.

I went with her to Thailand. There I saw many small factories, and each carried out a single job. One factory only made collars and another only sleeves. In the last factory, they put all the pieces together and packed the products. It was all very orderly.

I thought, "The women in these factories are just like me, so why can't we do this in Ghana?" We didn't have the know-how, but I knew we could figure it out. So, that's how I got into mass production.

I thought, "The women in these factories are just like me, so why can't we do this in Ghana?" We didn't have the know-how, but I knew we could figure it out.

When I came back from my trip to Thailand, I decided to use what I had learned to give jobs to people in Ghana. I started producing larger volumes and with the money I made, I bought more machines.

Now, we are able to produce thousands of items. At full scale, we have over 400 workers in the factory. If we receive a large order, then it can be twice that number.

Over 90 per cent of my staff are women. Mostly, they are working to feed their children and, in some cases, their husbands and parents as well. So you see the ripple effect of every good thing that you do. Personally, I see how much value there is in investing in women.

When you put the effort into training women, there's loyalty and commitment. When the workers see that you care about them, they stay with you, even through difficult times. Yes, our issues are unique, but as I am a woman, I understand.

Some of my female staff have issues with their menstrual cycles, so I asked a gynaecologist to come to the factory. As a business owner, there are sometimes challenges. But when the workers see that you care about them, they stay with you. (Ghana, 2024)

A few years ago, I learnt that the International Labour Organization had rolled out a programme working directly with enterprises in the garment sector, helping with the transfer of skills, workplace safety and health, and social policies.

Through the programme, experts have come into the factory to help train our staff. They are helping us to be more competitive. We have learned many things, such as the industrial engineering of garment patterns. Since then, we have invested in computers to digitise our patterns and be more efficient.

We have also started to make use of excess fabrics that we would normally have thrown away. Now, we turn them into products that we can sell, like hair ties or pouches.

When customers come to buy from us, they see that we are serious. Meeting all these international requirements has made us more attractive to customers. (Ghana, 2024)

Thanks to the ILO's programme, we have made many improvements. Some are costly, but the changes are helping us to gain market access. Customers take us seriously when they see our standards.

We have a fire exit and clearly marked spaces and lanes that must not be blocked, so that workers can leave safely if there is a problem. The workers have access to drinking water and washrooms.

Our social policies mean that, even if we are hiring somebody for one day, it has to be documented. We check all the workers' IDs to make sure their age complies with international standards.

In the factory, overtime is voluntary, and it is all documented and digital. The workers punch in with their fingerprints or their eyes, so there are no disputes.

In the beginning, some of the staff found the paperwork very tedious, but now they understand why we do this. It's all clear and everybody's happy.

The improvements to working conditions benefit the business itself. The workers feel that you care about them, so they are also committed to the growth of the business.

We have also introduced a Workers' Committee that holds regular meetings. If there is any grievance, the information is channelled to the management. And if there is a tight deadline for an order, we discuss it with the Committee to see how we can make it happen. It has really helped the relationship between the management and the workers.

At the end of the day, the improvements to working conditions benefit the business itself. The workers feel that you care about them, so they are also committed to the growth of the business.

It has been very fulfilling to reach this point. For me, the hardest moments have been when we need to let workers go. That is my nightmare, and it drives me constantly to work more.

Sometimes I wonder how I got here. I didn't put pen to paper to do it. I jumped right in. I always knew this was what I was going to do.

Recently the ILO project supported my participation at a garment trade show in Las Vegas where I promoted my business. (United States, 2024)

Linda Ampah’s company, KAD Manufacturing Limited, is supported by the ILO’s Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme.

The programme runs from 2022 to 2025 and is being implemented in Ghana, South Africa and Viet Nam.

It is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

In Ghana, the programme is prioritizing the textile and garment sector and the shea butter sector as key areas of focus to enhance productivity and decent work.

Garment companies like KAD Manufacturing are being provided with advisory services, productivity improvement training, costing and lean manufacturing training, and support for compliance and certification to help them meet industry standards. 

In 2022, the European Union signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with Ghana to foster economic and trade relations, including for the garment sector, by reducing tariffs and other trade barriers.

Interview with Magdalena Wüst, acting Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana

ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work Ghana

ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work programme

Linda Ampah is founder and CEO of a garment manufacturing company employing around 400 people, in Accra, Ghana. Recent improvements in productivity and working conditions at her factory have benefitted both workers and the business.

FoW Podcast -  Industrial symbiosis v.1 EN_1.mp3

Industrial symbiosis and productivity: The employment effects in developing countries 

Book launch : Industrial symbiosis and productivity: The employment effects in developing countries

Interview with Sabrina de Gobbi about employment and industrial symbiosis 

The employment effects of industrial symbiosis networks in the South African informal sector

Employment effects of industrial symbiosis in the Tanzanian sugar sector

Industrial symbiosis networks as part of a circular economy: Employment effects in some industrializing countries (Argentina and Colombia)

Industrial symbiosis is an approach to the circular economy through which businesses work together to utilize waste and by-products created by their processes in existing and new products, so saving resources and energy. Sabrina de Gobbi, ILO Senior Economist, joins the podcast to discuss what potential it has to ‘green’ economies and how we can ensure that the jobs it creates are decent.

Industrial symbiosis is an approach to the circular economy through which businesses work together to utilize waste and by-products created by their processes in existing and new products, so saving both resources and energy. It is being seen as an approach that has the potential to not only improve the environment but also to create new business opportunities with jobs that are both ‘green’ and decent, offering good conditions, security and rights.

But, building these symbiotic value chains is not always straightforward. Nor is it automatic that the jobs created will be decent or green – particularly those in small and medium-sized enterprises.

So how can the concept be applied so that its benefits are maximised, for businesses, workers, economies and the environment? 

Industrial symbiosis: an engine for green jobs and growth?

When conflict arrived to my home in northern Sri Lanka, we were displaced and I was injured. The injury led to a permanent disability. Even though I have experienced many challenges in my life, I still believe that nothing is impossible. Today, I am proud of everything that I have achieved.

When I was young, my family encouraged me to pursue any occupation that I wanted. I didn't have any restrictions. My father taught me to climb trees. He used to say: "keep climbing", and, one day, I climbed right up.

I completed my Ordinary Level exams in 2001 and began teaching at a nursery in 2002. But sometime after that, conflict arrived to our home, and we lost everything. We were displaced and lived in a camp. I got injured in 2008 and the injury made me a person with a disability.

I faced my hardships, and it made me stronger

During the final stages of the conflict, I was teaching at the refugee camp when a mutual friend introduced me to my future husband.

My husband is a great poet and a great artist. However, my mother worried about how challenging our life together would be, as he is also a person with a disability.

The first time we went out and I pushed his wheelchair, everyone stared at us. That day, I decided that people should see us established and financially independent. Today, I think we have achieved that aim.

The love that I felt when I first met my husband is the same now. I think, in fact, it has increased. (Sri Lanka, 2024)

After we married, we faced many hardships. We didn't have all the necessary facilities for my husband, and it was very difficult for me to travel with him.

Transport for persons with disabilities is in a dire state. Bus drivers and conductors find it very difficult to board a person who uses a wheelchair. It takes time for the person to board the bus and that means other passengers must wait. Because of that, the buses often don’t stop to let us board. 

The first time we went out and I pushed his wheelchair, everyone stared at us. That day, I decided that people should see us established and financially independent.

At that time, I started working in a garment factory. I worked there for around eight years, but the work was very difficult. When I was working at the factory, I thought “why should I continue to work for someone else?” So I decided to save exactly half of my salary and manage our expenses with the remainder.

With the money I saved, I bought a sewing machine and started a tailoring business at home. It was the only way for me to move upward.

Now, sewing is my primary occupation. Through this, I have built my livelihood. And because of my habit of saving, today we live well. I feel like I have already accomplished three quarters of my dreams.

I am a person who does things that seem impossible. I would never abandon something because I think that I can’t do it.  (Sri Lanka, 2024)

I’m the kind of person where if someone asks if I can do something, I will tell them I can, even if I don’t know how. An acquaintance asked me if I knew how to drive a three-wheeler and I said: “Yes, of course. Start the vehicle and I will drive it." He started it. I then asked if I should pull the gear up or down and he said to put the first gear up. So, I put it up and after riding for a while he said: “Why don’t you change the gear?” Then I quickly changed to second gear. Then he said to speed up a bit and change the gear. That's how I learnt to drive.

After that, everyone in the village knew me as the woman who could drive a three-wheeler. The very first time I drove a three-wheeler for hire with a passenger behind me, I felt such happiness in my heart. Everyone was amazed to see a woman driving.

Of course, there are challenges as a woman driving a three-wheeler. Many men don't like it. People will talk, but if we pay heed, we won't get our work done.

Women say they feel secure when I drive them. When they travel a long distance with a man, they sometimes feel uncomfortable. They feel they can travel safely with another woman.

I park the three-wheeler right outside my shop. If someone calls me for a hire, I drive them. I also use it for my own needs, from buying goods to doing deliveries. (Sri Lanka, 2024)

When the local three-wheeler cooperative had an opportunity to lease vehicles adapted for wheelchair users, I was shortlisted for an assessment and I became a member of the cooperative.

These three-wheelers are equipped with a ramp and, since my husband is also a person with a disability, it was recommended that I should receive one.

The cooperative also conducted training programmes about persons with disabilities and gender equality. If these trainings are continuously provided to other villages, especially to women who are interested in getting empowered, then there is a chance that more women like me will emerge.

Rather than trying on my own, I joined a cooperative of three-wheeler drivers. We meet regularly and I’ve learned a lot. (Sri Lanka, 2024)

I also know how to repair three-wheelers as well as motorbikes, which I learned at a mechanics training course offered for women.

Just like me, women should not limit themselves. They can learn mechanics, sewing and masonry. They are capable of everything. My wish is that women step out and become such individuals. If other women show interest in learning to drive, I am ready to teach them. 

Just like me, women should not limit themselves. They can learn mechanics, sewing and masonry. They are capable of everything.

My desire, one day, is to own a big vehicle. Reaching that goal will take a long time. It might be only possible when I am old. I would also like to study further. I have an affinity for electrical mechanics. If an organisation offered electrical mechanics courses for women, I would be first in-line to join.

Becoming a successful entrepreneur is another aspiration for me. Eventually, I hope to provide jobs to others, step by step, employing one or two people at first. I think it will also be better if it is a person with a disability, because just like me, they would have also faced many hardships in life. I am looking forward to being able to provide employment to them, to make their life better.

In the past, I have fallen and got back up. But these experiences have made me think that I shouldn’t waste a minute, and I should take others with me. 

Leena Penildas Thatkuras is a beneficiary of the International Labour Organization (ILO) project “Local Empowerment through Economic Development and Reconciliation" (LEED+).

The project ran from 2018 to 2023 in partnership with The Government of Norway and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australian AID).

It aimed to reduce poverty and create sustainable livelihoods to support post-conflict economic recovery and promote reconciliation in northern Sri Lanka.

Ten percent of the population in northern Sri Lanka is comprised of persons with disabilities who are at a high risk of poverty and social exclusion. Women with disabilities experience discrimination on the grounds of both their gender and impairment.

As part of the project, the ILO provided training to local cooperatives on disability inclusion and gender equality, including at the three-wheeler drivers cooperative, where Leena Penildas Thatkuras is a member. It also provided wheelchair-accessible three-wheelers to the cooperative. 

December 3 is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Through development cooperation and international labour standards, the ILO works to promote social justice and achieve decent work for people with disabilities.

Interview with Paul Stephens, Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

Interview with Johan Bjerkem, Embassy Secretary, Embassy of Norway to India and Sri Lanka

Local Empowerment through Economic Development and Reconciliation (LEED+) Project

Promoting Advancement of Vulnerable Persons and Enterprises (PAVE) Project 

International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December

Leena Penildas Thatkuras was injured during the civil conflict in Sri Lanka, which left her with a permanent disability. She now runs a sewing business and supplements her income by driving a three-wheeler for hire adapted for people who use wheelchairs, provided by an ILO project.

When I had children, I had to stop working to take care of my family. But managing with only my husband’s income was extremely difficult. A job vacancy at a garment factory with a newly opened childcare centre, gave me an unexpected opportunity to return to work.

My name is Meseret Tamru, and I am 29 years old. I live in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. I was born and raised in a small rural town in the Amhara Region. When I was young, I used to travel for an hour each day to get to school. By the end of 6th grade, I stopped studying.

When I was 22, I decided to move away from my small town to look for work in Addis Ababa. I went to the city with a friend who was older and had more experience than me. Back then, I was unfamiliar with the roads and the city. The journey was quite terrifying, but still, we were filled with hope for a better future.

Workplace childcare facilities allowed me to thrive

In Addis Ababa, we went straight from the bus station to a local agent’s office to find work. After a few days, we found a family willing to hire us as domestic workers. Being a domestic worker was very hard, but as I didn’t know the city or have any other place to go, I had to be patient and persevere.

A while later, I met my husband. This was another turning point in my life. When I married, I left my job as a domestic worker and began working as an assistant at the local agent’s office.

I had a job before, but after giving birth, I stopped working and stayed at home for almost five years. Without an income, it was difficult to provide for my children and myself. (Ethiopia, 2024)

In 2019, I gave birth to my first child at the age of 24. After that, I had to stop working to take care of my family as childcare was unaffordable for us. My second daughter, Kalkidan, was born in 2021. Her name means "Promise".

When I didn't work, it was very difficult to cover all our expenses with only my husband’s income. We had to pay rent, buy groceries, diapers, and clothing. Every month, we struggled to cover these costs. Our situation caused me a lot of stress. I was constantly hoping for an opportunity to return to work and help support the family.

It was very difficult to cover all our expenses with only my husband’s income... I was constantly hoping for an opportunity to return to work and help support the family.

Then, we saw an announcement for a vacancy posted in our neighbourhood. It was for a job at a garment factory with a newly opened childcare centre.

I was thrilled at the idea of returning to work. I could have an income and a place to take care of my youngest child nearby. This would make any parent happy.

I immediately decided to apply for the job. When I spoke with the garment factory management and explained my situation, they offered me the job on the spot.

Even though I always wanted to work and earn money for my family, I couldn’t because I had no one to take care of my baby. When this opportunity came, I grasped it with joy. (Ethiopia, 2024)

When I first visited the garment factory, I was really impressed. The childcare centre was very clean and well-organized. There were toys and napping areas and bathrooms for the children. It had everything that they needed. I could see that the childcare workers were taking good care of the children, so I had no worries about my daughter's well-being.

Since my daughter started going to the childcare centre, she has become more active. She spends time with other children, playing and talking. Also, she has started eating a variety of foods, which makes me very happy. Previously, she didn’t play much and only knew a few words like “mama” and “baba.” Now, she enjoys playing and knows many more words.

Getting the job was a huge relief. Now, I can earn a living while my daughter is close to me with good care. I had never heard of a facility like this before.

I can see my daughter during my breaks. It makes it feel like home for both of us. I am so happy now, because I am back at work, my baby is close to me and I know the trained childcare workers are taking good care of her. (Ethiopia, 2024)

My job at the factory is tailoring. My tasks depend on the orders that we receive. Recently, I was working on T-shirts and now I am making different kinds of tote bags.

At the moment, I start work at 8am and go home at 5pm. The factory is only a few minutes' walk from our home, so it's very convenient. During my breaks, I can see my daughter. It really feels like home for the mothers and the children.

Prices are increasing now in Addis Ababa, so I am incredibly grateful to be back at work. But it’s not just about the money; I also feel more emotionally stable because I am working.

I am a witness to how these facilities can change lives. It is very important for mothers to get back to work. It's not just to earn money and afford necessities. It also reduces stress when you are able to provide enough for yourself and your family.

The enterprise also benefits from this because experienced workers can stay in their jobs. They do not leave because they lack childcare. I advise mothers to look for opportunities like these so that they can get back to work. I believe it would be really helpful if there were childcare facilities at other garment factories.

According to ILO research conducted in 12 garment factories in Ethiopia, nearly half of workers said that between one and ten employees in their factory had resigned due to pregnancy or childcare responsibilities.

Most of the factories in the study (8 of 12) did not provide workplace childcare services, leading to higher rates of absenteeism, with workers in these factories being more likely to take sick leave to deal with family responsibilities than workers in factories with childcare services.

In response to these challenges, the ILO project “Promoting Workers’ Rights and Gender Equality in Africa,” funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, advanced care solutions in the garment sector and supported key care conventions in Ethiopia.

It organized capacity-building for government officials and labour inspectors and held workshops on maternity protection, labour law, and collective bargaining with the Confederation of Ethiopian Employers’ Association (CEEA) and the Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions (CETU).   

In collaboration with Partnership for Change (PfC), a Care@Work training manual was developed and piloted, training 216 workers and employers across four factories on care-related topics.

The project also established childcare centres at two garment factories and provided furniture at a third, helping mothers to return to work and enabling factories to retain talent and promote family-friendly workplaces.

The International Day of Care and Support on October 29 highlights the need to invest in resilient, inclusive care and support systems. This is a key contribution to gender equality and plays a crucial role in supporting families, communities, businesses and societies.

Interview with Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Promoting workers’ rights and gender equality at work in Africa

Care at Work in Ethiopia's Garment Sector

29 October - International Day of Care and Support

Meseret Tamru, an employee in a garment factory in Ethiopia, had to stop working when she had children. An ILO-supported childcare centre at her workplace has allowed her to return to employment and helped contribute to the family finances.

For most of my life, I worked as a trader, buying and selling goods from different places. But some years ago, I was forced to stop my activity and take care of my husband when he fell ill. At that time, a family social protection benefit helped to ease my financial burden and allowed me to pay for school supplies and other basic needs for my children. Thanks to a recent increase in the benefit, I have also been able to grow my small fruit stand business.

My name is Astou Gningue. I am 73 years old and the mother of 10 children. I currently live in Pikine, in the Dakar region of Senegal and have done so for 51 years.

When I was much younger, I lived in a village. There, I used to raise goats and sell them. I also bought fabrics and sold them.

Later, when I married and came to Dakar, I continued the same activity. I used to go to Rosso, near Mauritania, and to Gambia to buy goods and fabrics and sell them back home.

I carried out my commercial activities because a wife must also help her husband to run the household. She cannot just sit back and expect everything from a man.

Some years ago, my husband became ill. He could no longer work, and my children were still very young. Then, all the burden fell on me.

A social protection benefit transformed our daily lives

During my husband's illness, I shuttled back and forth between the hospital and home. I couldn't leave him alone and therefore I had to stop my commercial activities.

My life was hard when I stopped working. I spent all my time worrying about feeding my children.

I started running a small business in front of my house, using the money I had saved from buying and selling fabrics. I would go to the market to buy fruits and other goods to sell.

I looked after my husband, and I managed as best I could to look after my children.

After my husband had been sick for some time, he was admitted to hospital. When he was discharged, he returned home. A year later, he passed away.

Before receiving the family social protection benefit, I was in great difficulty. Long before that, I was financially independent, but when my husband became ill, I stopped working and things became complicated. Senegal (June, 2024)

Then one day, my son fell ill. I had to take care of him and could not work, I had no money. That's when one of my neighbours came to tell me that a family social protection benefit was available.

I went to the post office early in the morning. I waited in line until the afternoon, without getting paid. The next day, I went back to the post office at 4am and that day I received the social protection benefit.

That day, the family benefit was a great help.

One day, my son fell ill. I had to take care of him and could not work,  I had no money. That's when one of my neighbours came to tell me that a family social protection benefit was available.

At that time, I had children who were students, and I had to pay for their schooling. Thanks to the social protection benefit, I was also able to buy school supplies for them.

Studying is very important in life. When I was young, I really wanted to go to school, but our locality didn't have a school.

The fact that I didn't go to school hurts me now. I run a women's association and, as I'm not educated, others must write for me. But I don't know if people faithfully translate what I say.

The social protection benefit has really helped. It allows me to build up my capital and better manage the extra expenses for my children. Senegal (June 2024)

After I received the family social protection benefit, I went to the market and stocked up on more mangoes and other fruit to resell. With the benefit, I have strengthened my activities.

Since I was a young girl, commerce has always fascinated me. I love to work. I got this passion from my parents, who worked all the time. They taught me that work is the only way to support yourself and be self-sufficient.

My mother farmed and raised sheep, goats, and cattle. I inherited my mother's culture of hard work. She worked until the day she died. I instilled these values in my children, without exception, both boys and girls.

Since I was a young girl, commerce has always fascinated me. When my husband passed away, it would have been difficult if I wasn't used to working. Senegal (June 2024)

I know a few recipients of the family social protection benefit. 

Every Monday, as women beneficiaries, we get together to exchange ideas. We talk about the family benefit and how we use the money that we've received.

Recently, I received an increase in the family benefit. Now, we no longer receive 25,000 CFA francs (US$42). We receive 35,000 CFA francs (US$58) and it makes us even stronger. Thanks to the benefit increase, I've doubled the quantity of goods I buy.

I'm very happy with this increase because we now have more purchasing power. It has transformed our daily lives.

Thanks to the benefit increase, I've doubled the quantity of goods I buy. I'm very happy with this increase because we now have more purchasing power.

I've been through some very difficult times.

Today, some of my children work in commerce. One of my children works for the national electricity company and another one works at the town hall. The others are unemployed.

Some of them are also ill: my eldest son and the youngest. To this day, I continue to care for my children and receiving the family social protection benefit lightens my load.

In April 2023 Senegal increased family social protection benefits for 316,000 households with children by increasing the budget of the country’s main social assistance programme by 40%. The budget increase was financed through the reallocation of subsidies on petroleum products and electricity.

To prevent social tensions during its roll-out, accompanying measures for the transport sector and households previously benefiting from the electricity subsidies were implemented to maintain the purchasing power of workers and families.

The ILO was instrumental in achieving this policy change thanks to consistent advocacy as part of the Improving Synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management Programme (SP&PFM), funded by the European Union. The reduction and reallocation of energy subsidies was one of the key recommendations of the programme following analysis of fiscal space.

SP&PFM was a four-year programme (2019-2023) that aimed to strengthen the design and financing of national social protection systems. It was funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by the ILO, UNICEF, and the Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors.

Interview with Stéphane Devaux, EU delegation to Senegal

Senegal adopts recommendations from the SP&PFM analysis of its fiscal space

International Symposium on Improving Synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management - Panel 2: Advocating for investing more and better in social protection

Improving Synergies between Social Protection and Public Finance Management Programme

Global Coalition for Social Protection Floors

Astou Gningue, a mother of 10 children living in Senegal, sells fruit and other products to support her family. A social protection benefit has helped her to support her family’s basic needs when she could not work and enabled her to grow her business.

When I was very young, my parents passed away due to HIV. Some years later, I learned that I was also positive. I have faced stigma from society for my status. But I want people to understand that this is a manageable condition, and we can lead the same lives as everyone else. We shouldn't face discrimination.

I am 23-years old, and I was born and raised in Surat, India.

When I was about four, my dad passed away. It was only identified that he had HIV at the last stage of his illness, so he was never able to receive treatment.

Around a year later, in 2006, my mom also died. She had started receiving treatment for HIV after my dad tested positive, but she wasn't able to recover. Since then, I have been living with my maternal grandmother and uncle.

After my parents passed away, I wasn't immediately tested for HIV. It was a few years later, when my uncle asked for everyone in the family to get tested and that was when I discovered my status.

Everyone in the family tested negative, except for me. I was positive.

My HIV status won't prevent me from achieving my career goals

When my father passed away, none of his relatives came to the hospital to visit. They said they didn’t want to touch his body for fear of contracting HIV.

I am still in contact with my father’s side of the family, but they don’t ask me to come and visit. The stigma is there.

But people can get a disease at any time in their lives. Everyone faces problems. So, why should we live in fear?

HIV already has positive in its name, so why should we see it so negatively?

Even though I don’t remember much about my parents, I know my mother said that I should make my parents and my family proud.

Thanks to my sewing work, I can cover my own expenses with what I earn. I am also able to contribute to supporting the family. Surat, India (2024)

Since 2014, I’ve been receiving treatment for HIV through a non-profit community organization, The Gujarat State Network of Positive People – or GSNP+.

Back in school, I was absent a lot. During part of my treatment, I would get admitted to hospital for 10 - 15 days to ensure that there were no side effects.

At the time, the school called my uncle to ask why I was taking so much leave. We trusted them and told them about my HIV status. But they used it against me.

My school coach told my entire class about my status. After that, I faced derogatory comments from my classmates.

But some friends were supportive. They reminded me that I had done nothing wrong. I had contracted HIV at birth and so I shouldn't take people’s chatter to heart.

After school, I wanted to earn and become independent. But the school didn’t have anyone to guide us properly on what to do after graduating.

I have always been interested in arts and I wanted to do something creative. Two years ago, I was able to take skills development courses. With support from ILO and UNAIDS, I received training through the GSNP+ and studied computer literacy and sewing skills. 

The sewing course lasted for around six months. It started with basics on how to operate a sewing machine, how to cut fabrics and draw. Then we learnt how to create a finished product.

Now, I work from home sewing for friends and neighbours. With what I earn, I can cover my own expenses and help to support my family.

If a few of us have an open HIV status, then we can provide peer-to-peer counselling and guide each other on how to get the right information and resources. If the youth work together, it will benefit all our community. Surat, India (2024)

Reena Mistry, 23, aspires to join the Indian civil services. She also works as a volunteer with youth and lives with HIV. She became financially independent by training as a seamstress through a project implemented by the ILO in collaboration with UNAIDS.

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