Sowing Seeds of Change
16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence
Sowing Seeds of Change
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that begins on 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and continues until 10th December, Human Rights Day.
This year, Evoca Foundation is marking the period of activism with a celebration of our partner, Legacy of War Foundation, and their extraordinary ‘Land for Women’ programme.
‘Land for Women’ gives women-led farming cooperatives full ownership of their land, providing them with the agency and means to lift themselves and their communities out of poverty. Launched in 2019, the five-year programme supports women with the resources, tools, education and support systems they need to maximise their land and become the owners of a profitable business. Most of the project’s participants are survivors of genocide and sexual violence. They have a deep connection to the land and their environment, and many of them work using traditional, sustainable farming techniques that have been passed down for generations.
Stories from the Soil
In ‘Sowing Seeds of Change’, Evoca Foundation marks 2024’s 16 Days with Rwandan photographer Alice Kayibanda’s series, captured at two cooperative farms in 2023. In each cooperative farm within the ‘Land for Women’ project, the women of Rwanda are transforming the landscape—both physically and emotionally. Through collective farming, they are reclaiming agency, healing trauma, and building a future rooted in resilience and renewal.
For these women, cultivating the soil is an act of reclamation, a commitment to life, and a way to honour the past while forging a brighter future.
Credits
Photography: Alice Kayibanda – Capturing the resilience, beauty, and strength of the women and the land they cultivate through her lens.
Produced By: Evoca Pictures – Bringing stories of transformation and hope to life through visual storytelling.
In Partnership With: Legacy of War Foundation – Supporting community-led initiatives that empower survivors to rebuild with dignity and agency.