Autumn Update 2009
Introduction
Haiti
Dear Friend I would like to welcome you to this first issue of the ‘Women of Concern’ newsletter. My name is Angela O’Neill De Guilio and I am Concern’s Regional Director for Southern Africa. I had the pleasure of meeting many of you at the Dublin launch of the group in May of this year.
Microfinance: helping women start in business
If you attended any of our events, you are no doubt beginning to get a picture of the situation of women and girls in the countries where we work, and most importantly, what we can do to give hope bring about fundamental changes for the poorest women and their families.
You and your fellow members of Women of Concern are helping women in Haiti to start small businesses so that they can provide for themselves and their families. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with over half the population living on less than a dollar a day. The people live in an endless cycle of poverty with little or no opportunity to save money for emergencies, to pay for education or to start businesses.
Working for Concern, I have seen the struggle that women in developing countries face on a daily basis; the constant challenge to feed their families, collect water, eke out a living from a small plot of land or do work on other people’s farms for very low wages. I have seen the immense difficulties women and girls face from all forms of violence, the devastation of HIV and AIDS, and the effects of poor health and education services. The challenges faced by women and girls are very daunting.
This is where our partner Fonkoze (translating into ‘the shoulder to shoulder’ foundation) can be a lifeline. Fonkoze not only provide microfinance loans; they understand that most of the people in these poor areas need more than just financial help. They also provide literacy and business training to help ensure their business ventures are successful, as well as providing information and support in health and social services.
But I have also been fortunate to see the improvements which are made; changes made possible thanks to the support of women like you. Educating girls, as you will read, is critical to giving these girls a chance to improve their lives as they grow. For women who are struggling to make ends meet, the provision of a small loan can revolutionise their lives and the lives of their families. It is vitally important that the position of women in communities is substantially improved, so that they can fully embrace opportunities. This means ensuring that their voices are heard, that their needs are met and that they have the opportunity to live safely and with dignity. It is interesting to note that, as this newsletter goes to press, figures have recently been released clearly demonstrating the link between hunger and women’s equality (Global Hunger Index 2009). Higher levels of hunger are associated with lower levels of education for women. It is estimated that if women were empowered and attained more equality with men, that the number of malnourished children would be reduced by 1.7 million in Sub-Saharan Africa. An astonishing figure I’m sure you will agree. Continuing to focus on women to improve the lives of whole families and communities is critical. You and Women of Concern are an inspiration to me and my colleagues as we work closely with women in extremely vulnerable situations. It was an enormous pleasure for me to be invited to participate at the inception of this group, to meet many of you, our generous supporters, and our ambassadors. I am proud that women in Ireland are joining our endeavours to create a more equal world.
Angela Table of contents Haiti: Microfinance................................................ 2 Ethiopia: Gender Violence.................................. 3 Bangladesh: Amader School............................. 4 Rachel Allen: Questions and Answers............. 5 Letter from Zimbabwe.......................................... 6
Cover photo: Tagen Hepbo, 28, walks with her child through the new forest they helped to plant with support from Concern Worldwide in Southern Ethiopia. Photo: Mike Goldwater
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As you will see from the story below, lives can be turned around and provide women with hope for the future. The support which Velouse, and others like her, receive thanks to the generous support from you and other Women of Concern members, is truly lifechanging. On behalf of her and the other women supported by the programme, thank you.
Velouse’s Story Velouse Dupiton is a 36 year old mother of four children, aged between 8 and 14. Two of her five children attended school but were constantly sent back home because of non-payment of tuition fees. Velouse found this extremely difficult and ended up keeping all the children at home. She usually found herself having to borrow money from loan sharks just to survive, and always had problems paying them back. Velouse had many difficulties just trying to feed her family. Even on good days they only had one meal a day and she often had two consecutive days without anything to eat. She tried different tactics to support her family, including borrowing money from her mother to launch a small business, which didn’t succeed. She then rented a small piece of land where she cultivated a small garden; however this was barely sufficient to feed her family for even one month during the year. Over time, Velouse became increasingly socially isolated, especially as she was unable to participate in community activities because she didn’t have anything to wear – she owned only one dress. She was increasingly ignored by the community and no-one wanted to help or lend money to her. She had no hope for the future other than to consider going to Port-au-Prince where she could work as servant or washing woman. Here she could earn between €7 and €14 a month. All in all her life was quite miserable and getting worse. Her inclusion in the Concern/Fonkoze programme was an
unexpected but very welcome lifeline. Velouse was selected for the programme by the community members as she was one of the poorest women in her area. To begin with, she received three female goats whose milk would help her earn an income that could grow and last. She also received an initial €25 plus a weekly stipend to help with her family’s day-to-day expenses until her finances improved. The support from Concern also included appropriate training in business skills and goat rearing, as well as information sessions on treating water to make it safe, HIV and other health issues. Two years after joining the project Velouse has made significant changes to her life. Her business has expanded and she is now the proud owner of ten chickens, four goats, one cow, a horse and a parcel of arable land. She grows vegetables on her land and sells them at market. She can then invest the money back into livestock or to lease more land for the cultivation of rice and vegetables. Velouse is now looked upon as a role model for other women in her community. She is no longer isolated and takes part in all the social activities in the area. She and her family regularly eat three meals a day and, wanting them to have a better future, she sends all her children to school. Velouse believes that in her community she would now be classified among the more affluent. She thinks that the most advantageous thing for her was the training, advice and support she received from the project. She is determined to apply this to her life going forward to help ensure a brighter future for her family.
Photo: Velouse Dupiton, Haiti: Concern Worldwide
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Ethiopia
Bangladesh
Gender Based Violence: helping women live safely Thank you for your very generous support towards Concern’s work combating gender based violence in Ethiopia. With your help, we are able to challenge the behaviours which lead to the prevalence of gender based violence, and reduce the violence experienced by many women and girls. Concern and our local partner, Women Support Association (WSA), are supporting 18,000 women and girls who are directly at risk of violence in Dessie Zuria district. We are also working indirectly with about 72,000 members of 11 communities in the district. Unfortunately gender-based violence (GBV) is all too common in this part of the world, with 71% of women experiencing sexual or physical violence by their partners. To compound this, poverty increases the risk of violence against women as they traditionally lack resources, skills, education and the collective strength to break the cycle of gender based exploitation. One of the ways that we find particularly effective is to help women earn a living through the development of self-help groups. With your support, Concern is addressing the inequality and poverty that can render women powerless by helping in the development of self-help groups. These 115 groups currently have 2,340 women members who are trained on how to set up their group, how to manage funds for savings and loans, leadership training, book-keeping, business skills and record keeping. They also receive essential training on their rights and family law, health matters, education for
their children and how to challenge any violence they might be exposed to. To start with the groups are provided with a revolving fund for seeds of approximately €300 per group. Group members can then apply for a small loan to grow produce to feed their families and sell the surplus at market. They then pay back their loans and can apply for additional ones if they have an opportunity to expand their business. These groups have been so successful that this format is being copied throughout the community. Neighbouring women can see the improvements in the lives of the group members, and so form their own groups and asking our partners for guidance. There has been a visible improvement in the livelihoods of the members and in their hopes for the future. They also enjoy the strength of being part of a group. Previously poverty and violence often meant many of the women were isolated in their misery and felt very alone. Now, more than 65 of the groups wear ‘uniforms’ as a visible representation of their togetherness. The results so far have been hugely encouraging and a good foundation is in place to carry on reaching even more women and girls, helping to stop the cycle of violence, inequality and poverty. With the ongoing support of you and your fellow Women of Concern members, this valuable work will continue to change lives for the better.
Education: Amader School educating girls
Zerithu’s Story “I was 13 when I was sent to be married. I was terrified and had no idea what would happen to me”, explains Zerithu. “I have two daughters and I didn’t want them to have to go through the same experience as me. By me joining this group, I know they won’t have to. I have been able to talk to them about HIV, violence against women and how important their education is. I want them to stay in school until they are 18 and maybe they will manage to get a job after and not have to get married so soon.” Zerithu’s group managed to save 950 Birr (€51). The group intend for their savings to grow and grow and eventually they hope to have enough to buy a mechanical grinder for their wheat as well as a water pump for the community. But the groups not only provide such an important discussion forum and credit function; it has also become an important social outlet for the women. As Zerithu explains, “The meetings are a way for me to see my friends and we have become much closer now. Before we would talk about other people and their problems, now we talk about ourselves, love, relationships and men!” Seeing such tremendous change in the lives of these women in such a short space of time, it is guaranteed that these groups will grow stronger in the coming years.
Members of Andenat Self Help Group pose for a photo with their savings books and minute book for meetings. This group have managed to save about €120 since September 2008. Their dream is to become millionaires! Photo: Louise Finan, Concern, South Wollo, Ethiopia.
In Bangladesh, Concern is working to increase the attendance of girls at primary school and to increase the quality of that education. With your support we aim to improve the standard of education and decrease the drop-out rates for girls. Despite there being great strides in the Bangladeshi education system in recent years, particularly with the number of girls enrolling at schools, there are problems with the quality of education available, student over-crowding, and poorly trained and over-worked teachers. Over half of the population is still illiterate. In addition, girls often have big domestic burdens and are expected to work at home, leaving little time to study or attend classes. Poor and illiterate parents are often dependent on their children economically, and therefore don’t even send them to school. With the support of Women of Concern, we are addressing two of the main problems: poor quality education and low attendance by poor children, especially girls. To improve the quality of education we are training School Management Committees (SMCs) and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs). To improve attendance rates, we are training volunteer teachers who are able to reach the children who might otherwise not even attend school. SMCs and PTAs are formed by the government to run primary schools. The SMCs have the bigger role in ensuring the quality of education and increasing access and retention, whilst the PTAs role is to develop the relationship between school and parents. However, in reality both these committees are generally inactive; they have no structure and are unsure of their roles and responsibilities. Therefore training these committees in basic roles and responsibilities is critical to the successful running of the schools.
Beauty’s story Beauty Akter is the daughter of a poor farmer and his wife. The land farmed by her father does not provide enough food for him, his wife and their five children, so he has to work for richer farmers to make ends meet. Both her parents were unaware of the value of education and they believed it was only for the rich people. However, young Beauty always dreamed of going to school, and told this to Shahanara Begum, a volunteer teacher in her community. Shahanara helps the poorest children in her area by preparing their lessons. She intervened on Beauty’s behalf and talked to her parents at length and convinced them to admit their daughter to school. Now Beauty is eager to study and is improving every day. Her parents are happy their daughter is studying and are now thinking about Beauty’s future. Photo: Beauty Akter with her mother: Borhan Uddin, NUSA/Concern
Concern and our local partners are providing training for the SMCs in classroom observations, the use of teaching aids, how to ensure child-friendly classroom activities, the best use of interactive teaching and group learning. It has been found that once the SMCs are aware and adequately trained in their roles they are very effective at mobilising the communities, which in turn ensures good enrolment and attendance. PTAs, once trained, are effective in engaging more mothers in education, and in particular the poorer mothers who would otherwise not be involved at all. This results in girls being more likely to attend school. Concern is also training and supporting volunteer teachers who are proving to be an invaluable resource in ensuring that the very poorest and underperforming students are reached and supported. So far, they have provided support to 1,775 of the poorest students from 49 schools. They prepare lowcost teaching materials, maintain the attendance registers and follow up with those who stop coming to classes. They also visit the homes of extremely poor families whose children are least likely to attend school, and encourage parents with no knowledge of education to send their girls to school. The training of the SMC and PTAs has resulted in improved quality in education which in turn means there are less children dropping out of education. With effective PTAs and the help of volunteer teachers, more of the most vulnerable girls are now enrolling in school and are benefiting from the improved teaching. With the continued support of Women of Concern, we can continue to encourage the education of girls, benefitting them, their children and communities for generations to come. On their behalf, thank you.
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Women of Concern - Ambassador Profile Rachel Allen, ambassador to Women of Concern, recently attended the launch in Cork and told us why she was interested in the group.
Zimbabwe You and your fellow Women of Concern members are currently supporting projects and helping women in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Haiti. However, Concern works in 28 countries worldwide and Louise Finan, who is based in our Nairobi office, thought you’d like to hear about a woman she met in Zimbabwe, and how giving a woman a voice can improve their lives.
Rachel, you’re an ambassador for Women of Concern. Why Concern? I was asked!! I was invited to become involved at a time when I was thinking how best I could support the causes closest to my heart – Concern is an organisation I have always supported and is a great Irish organisation and I was proud to add my voice. What was it about the Women of Concern initiative that touched you personally? The facts speak for themselves, women are the poorest and the most vulnerable people in the world. Over 70% of the more than one billion people who live in absolute poverty are women, and despite doing two thirds of the work they earn only 10% of the worlds income. This is obviously grossly unacceptable and I’m delighted to be able to offer my support to an organisation that is working for women’s human rights.
What is it about women in the developing world that stood out for you?
There’s a lot of information out there which is quite shocking, but as I spend most of my life involved with food (at work and at home) I was particularly horrified at the hunger statistics. One billion people do not have enough to eat which is more than the populations of USA, Canada and the EU combined! And what horrified me was that most of these are women, and tragically every six seconds a child dies because of hunger and related causes. The sort of figures that are almost too big to grasp, and why I feel very strongly about doing something to help. Your new baby daughter is only 9 months old. What are the differences she might expect growing up in Ireland compared with a little girl growing up the developing world? There is really no comparison in terms of opportunities, health and well-being. But there are similarities in that mothers everywhere are just like us in that they want the best for their daughters. I recently attended the launch of Women of Concern in Cork and listened to staff tell us of the situation for women in some African Countries, I did find it absolutely shocking. However, the women’s personal stories were a testament to the fantastic work that Concern is doing, and to the individual strength and dignity of the women themselves. What really did shine out for me was that despite their hardships, they have ambitions for their children, they want their children to have enough food, to be safe and they recognise that educating their girls is key to their futures. So although a girl growing up in a poor country will have a very different upbringing our children here in Ireland, in reality what motivates us as mothers is the same. As a successful woman in Ireland and the UK and beyond, what in your view are the basic ingredients to give a girl a better life? It’s a simple recipe really, and one we all know well… • A safe delivery! (Infant mortality statistics are dreadful: every day 1,400 women die in pregnancy and childbirth related complications – most of which could be avoided). • A healthy and well nourished early childhood, with enough food available for the child to grow both physically and intellectually. • Safety from harm – girl children can be at risk from neglect, abuse, forced marriage etc. • To be loved and cared for – enabling the mothers to be able to care for their children and make an adequate living, will ensure their children will thrive • Then education, education and education. The result of the above would be a healthy, safe and happy girl, educated enough to ensure she can have a good life ensuring that her own family in the future has a better future.
How will you be involved with the Women of Concern initiative?
Watch this space! In 2010 I’ll be putting my skills to good use for Women of Concern.
Dear Women of Concern,
I visite d Zim babwe earlie r this year, I’d love to sh where I met are her insp the articula irational stor te an d ever y w ith you. smiling Netsa Netsai lives i Siban da. in Gowke, a vi llage almost Her husban d 400 kilomet die d in 2007 res south of leaving her children on the Zimbabw the difficult her own. As ean capital, task of raisin th e 33 year-ol explains, “I Harare. g three was four mon d mother ths pregnant husban d die when my d. It was su ch a terrible wasn’t sure time for me. what was g oing to happ we women h en next; you ave very fe know w rights he re.” I Traditionally in Gowke an d most part when a wom s of Zimbab an marries we, sh e moves to home. Howev her husban d’ er, when he s r husban d die she had no d Netsai fou right to stay n d in as it was he her home or r in-laws wh farm the lan o d owne d it. As “I was face d w ith two Netsai expla ch in oi s, ces at the ti move back to me, to eithe my parents’ r home or ma younger bro rry my husb ther an d be a n a d’s ll owe d to sta didn’t want y on the lan to do either.” Netsai Siban da. d. I Photo Louise Finan, Concern Worldwide. Face d which such a daunt ing dilemma which she h Netsai turne ad heard ne d to the Con ig h bours talk a volunteers w cern suppor bout. ‘Star’ ho encourag te d Star prog is e a support pr th positive, an d e community ramme, ogramme invo help those lik to tackle th lving locally e problem of e Netsai wh traine d o are negat HIV, support ive to remain those who a With help fr so. re om the Star volunteers, N home an d co etsai persua ntinue to fa de d her in-l rm her lan d. another man aws to let h “This was w for support er stay in h hat I wante like so many being mistre er marital d. I didn’t want single mothe ate d by a m to have to ta rs have to. I an I di dn’t k live for,” say ke n w ow. My husb as worrie d s Netsai. about gettin an d may be g HIV an d dead, but I have three Now she ha children to s turne d from a woman wh comman ding o was fright voice for wom ene d about en w ithin th for money. M her an d her e community. y farming is children’s fu As Netsai ha doing this fo kids are in sc ture, to a ppily explain r me. I sell hool. I want s, “I don’t ne what crops them to be their father e d a man I ca intelligent a die d. An d I n d know they n an d we eat the rest. want other can stop sin M w y older a re not disadv omen to know gle or w idow antage d just e d women fr this to o. Wit people are b because om h support an d eginning to becoming HIV listen to me encouragem be the men’s p os it iv e ; or e w nt, we depen dent on omen aroun property. Th d me are be ey can have unreliable m ginning to re e a voice.” n. An d alise they do Thanks to yo n’t have to ur support fo r women like Netsai an d im Women of Concern, you are helping prove the liv from all the our teams a es of them, Concern tea roun d the w their familie m here in N orld reach s an d their airobi! communities. Best w ishes Thank you
Louise
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Notice Board oncern Women of C s launch event Cork in Dublin and
Amy Huberman at the Du blin event at the Chester Beatty Lib rary
Mary Rwegas ira from Tanzan ia speaking at Cork event the
laghan, M iriam O’Cal
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ening in Dub
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Cathy Dave y, Nora Ow en and Neil Hann on in Cork Mary O’Riordan , President of Network Cork and Ciara Feely at the C ork event
09, Etaoin Ní Miss Cork 20 er O’Sullivan in Em hAilpín and Cork
allaghan Miriam O’C o in Dublin , s ye e K n Maria De Guill la O’Neill and Ange
Rachel Allen pres enting the Clarins hamper to the prize winner Ca rol Brick at Cork
s Dublin photos taken by Richard Stoke (Richard Stokes Photography) eeney Cork photos taken by Daragh McSw (Provision Photography)
For further information please contact Gail Williams. Tel: 01 417-8020 Email:
[email protected] Concern Worldwide, 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2 www.concern.net Concern Worldwide – an international organisation dedicated to reducing suffering and working towards the elimination of extreme poverty. Place of registration: Dublin, Ireland. Registered address is 52-55 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2. Reg. No. 39647. Reg. Charity No. CHY 5745.
