The Growing Burden of Poverty on Women

Every day, across many parts of the world, women carry a burden that is often invisible, yet incredibly heavy. Poverty does not strike equally. Its weight falls disproportionately on the shoulders of mothers and widows who, despite their own hunger and pain, strive to protect and nurture their families. As a staff member of Charity Entrust Foundation, I have had the privilege of seeing both the struggles and the extraordinary resilience of these women - and it has changed the way I view strength, sacrifice, and dignity.

The unseen sacrifices of mothers and widows

In countless households where we work, women are the ones who silently go without food so that their children can eat. They are the ones who queue for hours to collect water, even when the pumps are broken and the distance is far. They are the ones who patch old clothes, mend torn shoes, and turn the simplest of meals into nourishment for their families.

For widows, the burden is even heavier. With no partner to share responsibilities, many are left as sole providers. In communities where work opportunities are scarce, widows often depend on charity or the kindness of neighbors. Yet, despite this vulnerability, they carry themselves with dignity. When we deliver grocery bags, I often notice how they thank us first not for themselves, but because they are relieved that their children will eat that night.

It is a kind of strength that humbles us as charity workers, because it is born from necessity, not choice.

Poverty as a daily battle

When poverty becomes a daily battle, it is not just about lack of food or clothing. It is about constant choices no one should have to make. A widow might ask herself: Do I buy medicine for my fever, or do I use that money to buy a kilo of rice for my children?

I remember speaking to a mother who told me, “My children must eat, so I drink only water at night. Their sleep is important; my hunger can wait.” It is in such small and quiet ways that poverty erodes health, steals opportunities, and weakens communities.

But these are not stories of despair alone. They are also stories of incredible resilience, love, and hope.

The role of compassion

At Charity Entrust Foundation, we believe that compassion should not only be felt but acted upon. Providing grocery bags, widow pensions, and food supplies may seem like small steps when viewed against the scale of global poverty, but for each family we reach, it is the difference between despair and dignity.

When we deliver food packs, we do it at their doorstep - not to display their poverty, but to protect their dignity. For us, charity is not about numbers alone, it is about respect. We avoid unnecessary photos or public displays of need, because we believe poverty should never be a source of humiliation.

Every act of kindness has a ripple effect. When a widow is relieved of the worry of feeding her children for the month, she gains time and energy to think about how she might earn a living, learn a skill, or simply rest without fear. In that sense, charity is not only relief; it is also restoration.

Why supporting women matters

Supporting women is not charity in the narrow sense. It is investment in the future. A mother who is supported is a family that survives. A widow who receives help is a child who can stay in school. And when women are given dignity and strength, communities become stronger and more resilient. We see it in the smiles of children when their mothers can cook them a proper meal. We see it when widows join hands with neighbours and form small groups of mutual support. We see it when hope replaces the constant anxiety of survival.

The role of donors and supporters

None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors and well-wishers. Every bag of groceries distributed, every widow pension provided, every act of support given to women in need carries within it the kindness of someone who chose to share.

As staff, we are often the ones delivering these items, but the real work is yours - the donors, the supporters, the ones who make these efforts possible. I wish you could hear the duas (prayers) made for you, whispered by women as they place food on the table for their children. I wish you could see how their faces soften when they realise that someone, somewhere, cared enough to remember them.

Your support not only feeds bodies, but it restores faith - in humanity, in compassion, and in the promise that no one is truly alone.

A call to conscience

As I write this, I know there are still many women we cannot yet reach. For every widow we support, there are others still waiting. For every mother whose children we feed, there are more who go to bed hungry.

This reality can feel overwhelming, but it should not paralyse us. It should inspire us. Because every single contribution, no matter how small, changes someone’s life. Every act of giving brings us closer to a world where women do not have to carry such burdens alone.

As staff, we see firsthand the impact of your donations. We also see the desperate need that remains. My hope is that you will continue to walk with us, to keep supporting, and to help us reach the women who are still waiting for relief, dignity, and a reason to believe that tomorrow can be better than today.

We must think and act

Poverty places its harshest weight on women, yet they rise each day with courage and faith that is difficult to put into words. As a charity, we feel honored to stand beside them, to offer a helping hand, and to share in their journey toward dignity.

But the truth is, we cannot do it alone. It is through your generosity, your compassion, and your willingness to act that we can transform lives. On behalf of every widow and mother we have served, and those we hope to serve, I thank you. May Allah reward your kindness and multiply your blessings.

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