Women Cotton Workers Lead Climate Literacy Drive in Matiari to Fight Climate and Labor Challenges
Women agricultural workers in Matiari launch a climate literacy campaign to raise awareness on climate risks, health impacts, and labor rights for safer working conditions.
HYDERABAD: In a powerful move for climate justice and labor rights, women agricultural workers and leaders from cotton workers’ unions in Matiari district have united to launch a district-wide climate literacy campaign. This initiative aims to educate women workers and growers about the growing threats of climate change and the urgent need for safer, dignified working conditions.
The campaign follows a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Climate Change and Health Literacy organized by the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) and the Commonwealth Foundation. Forty-two women from 21 villages gained vital knowledge and practical skills to become climate advocates in their communities.
Javed Hussain, Executive Director of SCF, inaugurated the workshop emphasizing, “Climate change is not only an environmental crisis but a gender and justice issue. Women agricultural workers are on the frontlines of this crisis and must lead the solutions.”
The training covered key topics such as climate change fundamentals, its effects on women in agriculture, heat-related health risks including heatstroke and menstrual health problems, and strategies for community engagement during heatwaves.
Dr. Hira Arain explained climate impacts on livestock and rural livelihoods, while Zubaida Turk and Dr. Bakhtwar highlighted the worsening working conditions and health threats from rising temperatures.
Afroz, a cotton worker leader, voiced the collective concern: “We now understand how climate change is harming our health and livelihoods. We need more vegetation cover for shade and fair wages to protect our rights.”
The women developed a localized action plan to launch Climate Literacy Week in Matiari, aiming to reach over 1,000 women cotton workers. Their goals include advocating for eco-friendly shade structures and stronger occupational health protections.
This campaign marks the beginning of a women-led climate resilience movement in rural Sindh, empowering cotton workers to confront climate challenges head-on while demanding justice and dignity in their work.
