Through the eyes and experiences of women impacted by coal, oil and mega-infrastructure projects in South Africa, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Women Hold Up the Sky explores stories of resistance and communities in active struggle to take back control of their land, their rights, their bodies and their lives.

In South Africa, the women of adjacent communities in KwaZulu-Natal, Somkhele and Fuleni, fight against the encroachments of a coal mine. The mine uses vast water resources to wash coal in preparation for export whilst women walk up to 25 kilometres per day to access drinking water. "Can you see the dust we drink? … What are we supposed to do? Imagine what our insides must be like? No good comes from the mine," says Khiphile Msweli. In Uganda, land-grabbings and forced removal of thousands of people to make way for oil exploration has left communities in despair yet determined to rise up to defend their land and livelihoods. The Democratic Republic of Congo's US$80 billion Inga hydropower mega-dam project has already displaced many. The Grand Inga, the world's largest hydropower scheme, promises a power grid across Africa that will fuel the continent's industrial economic development vision all at the expense of poor communities.

Follow their journeys as they fight for voice, build inspiring solidarity and take action in the face of violent repression.

Women Hold Up the Sky
African women rise for climate justice