In November 2024, Faith Sharleen Nkala, representing Bekezela Home-Based Care (HBC), participated as a key panelist in the virtual “Valuing Women’s Work Partners Impact Global Café Learning Series.” This particular session, titled “Shifting Narratives on Care and Informal Work,” coincided with the International Day of Care and Support. The event aimed to explore how evolving societal narratives could lead to greater recognition and support for caregivers and informal workers. The learning series attracted a diverse global audience of 108 participants, including Oxfam affiliates, partners, informal sector representatives, NGOs, academics, and advocates.

Bekezela HBC showcased its impactful work in Bubi, illustrating through practical examples of storytelling and community-driven models how the organization engages key stakeholders as allies in addressing unpaid and underpaid care work. Ms. Nkala highlighted how Bekezela’s multi-faceted, community-led approaches have not only supported caregivers but also begun to shift public perceptions about the true value of care work. Her presentation underscored the critical importance of narrative change campaigns in challenging context-specific, gendered stereotypes. She specifically pointed out the need to address harmful gender norms prevalent in Bubi District, emphasizing that changing these narratives could significantly combat inequalities and shift cultural perceptions.

Ms. Nkala’s presentation also stressed the vital importance of investing in caregiving spaces to support women in the informal sector. She explained that without adequate resources, women often reduce their working hours to care for children, increasing their vulnerability to economic dependence. The session fostered an interactive exchange of ideas, with participants posing questions about effective strategies for shifting societal perceptions and addressing policy challenges. In response, Ms. Nkala stated, “Community-based transformative dialogues, door-to-door engagements, and capacity strengthening for traditional leaders, policymakers, and leveraging the media play an important role in amplifying these narratives and challenging stereotypes to support caregivers.”

Reflecting on the learning series, Faith Nkala remarked, “Our participation in this series has been an invaluable opportunity to share our journey, connect, and learn from other panelists. It’s clear that narrative change is key to achieving equity and recognizing the value of unpaid care work to build resilient communities.” The series provided a crucial platform for meaningful discussion, emphasizing the transformative potential of recognizing and valuing care work.