The Day a Community Told Us Cleaning Was Women's Work

Community development is often described as a process of identifying problems and working together to find solutions. While this sounds straightforward, the reality is often more complex. Sometimes, the greatest challenge is not the problem itself but the deeply rooted beliefs and traditions that shape how people see the world.

One experience that remains vivid in my mind occurred during one of Ayeyi Impact Foundation's community engagement activities.

After conducting our community entry and meeting with local leaders, we were given the opportunity to address the entire community. During the gathering, we spoke about healthy living, environmental sanitation, and the importance of maintaining clean surroundings. We also introduced the idea of a monthly community clean-up exercise to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of disease outbreaks.

The proposal seemed simple and beneficial. We expected discussions about how to organize the exercise and encourage participation.

Instead, something unexpected happened.

As the discussion progressed, several men stood up and openly expressed their opposition. Their argument was not against cleanliness itself. Rather, they believed that cleaning was traditionally the responsibility of women.

According to them, sweeping, collecting waste, and cleaning public spaces were duties assigned to women by culture. Therefore, a community clean-up exercise was something women should undertake, not men.

At first, I was surprised. From my perspective, keeping a community clean was everyone's responsibility. Diseases do not choose between men and women. Poor sanitation affects entire families and communities.

However, that moment taught me an important lesson.

Development work is not simply about introducing new ideas. It is about understanding people. Before changing behaviour, one must first understand the beliefs, values, and traditions that influence that behaviour.

Rather than dismissing their concerns, we listened carefully. We engaged in respectful dialogue and discussed how sanitation impacts the health of everyone in the community. We explained that while culture deserves respect, some challenges require collective action from all members of society.

The discussion became more productive. People began to reflect on the connection between sanitation, health, and community well-being. While changing long-held beliefs does not happen overnight, the conversation opened the door for new ways of thinking.

That experience reminded me that meaningful change requires patience. Communities are not transformed through commands or criticism. They are transformed through engagement, education, and mutual respect.

As development practitioners, we must be willing to listen before we speak, learn before we teach, and understand before we seek to change.

The goal is not to fight culture but to work with communities in finding solutions that improve lives while respecting their identity and values.

Looking back, that day was about much more than a clean-up exercise. It was a lesson in leadership, communication, and the importance of meeting people where they are.

And it left me with an important question:

When cultural traditions conflict with community development goals, how can leaders promote positive change while still respecting the values of the people they serve?

Tsekpokumah Richard

Founder, Ayeyi Impact Foundation

Educator | Youth Leader | Climate Advocate

Learn more about our work: www.ayeyiimpactfoundation.org