Empowering Women and Girls
by annetteruss | November 8, 2010 at 3:00 PM
My organization, Just One Person, is developing a Global Women's Village in Kakamega, Kenya. The Village members are women of all circumstances who are working together to empower both themselves and the next generation of Kenyan women...high school girls. Local women's groups, with the assistance of informal micro finance programs, are starting small businesses with the support of Just One Person Kenyan volunteers. Once the businesses are profitable, rather than repaying monetary interest, the women's groups make small donations to to our adolescent girls programs.
High school girls attend life skills workshops organized and presented by women from the local community. Our life skills programs use 3 year curriculum tailored for girls in grades 10- 12. Girls who are Just One Person alumni also participate. They act as mentors and presenters at workshops.
In addition, JOP alumni have the opportunity to form a group and start an enterprise, enabling them to learn about entrepreneurship, economic independence as well as giving them the means to "pay it forward" for the girls who follow behind.
The goal for our Village model is to create financial and developmental sustainability on the ground. It doesn't rely on U.S. donors to "push the program along". It will only succeed if the women in the communities believe in the value of empowerment and are committed to the program's success.
Just like every other small NGO working in Africa, getting funding almost impossible and we all must rely on a few loyal donors to help the program grow. While we may be small, we all are passionate, hardworking and manage to accomplish a great deal on the ground with very little money.
I really think it is vital that we build a very strong coalition of small nonprofits who CAN get their voice heard. We need leverage and visibility as a collective....otherwise, we will continue to be frustrated as we watch the funding for girls' empowerment and education disappear into research and conferences.
Comments
empowering woman is the
empowering woman is the biggest challenge for the world but more than that what is challenging is to motivate them. Once we motivate them to do something , to change their lifestyle or to think differently then the empowerment can be done. But one should always think about the sustainability of that particular plan.
Thank you for sharing this here. As i have been doing training on the same from last 10 days, i got to know many things and this one is also helpful to think in a sustainable way.
You can have the good example of the 100% achievement village in india- its gangadevipali village, you can search that in google, it is the first village in india which has its own website.
I wish you all the best and may the women in that village will get self esteem to do that!
Peace,
Nilima
www.nilichari.wordpress.com
would like to conduct training like your organization
Hello Annetteruss!
First of all, thank you so much for sharing what you are doing in your community to us and I am very appreciate it.
To be frank, although I have been working as a facilitator in many training programs, I haven't conducted such programs like yours. As I have a strong interest and plan to organize such kind of trainings, your post really makes me encouraged and learned.
With Love,
Shwe Wutt Hmon
Myanmar
Insha Allah
Hi Annetteruss, Thanks so
Hi Annetteruss,
Thanks so much for sharing your story. This is the kind of information I was looking for. I am thinking of starting something almost similar in some communities in Southern Africa, though my focus is on young women. the idea is to start a social business, that will enable young women to start entrepreneurial activities that not only empower themselves but also their communities, and hence indirectly introducing them into leadership; making them active participants and leaders in their communities.
I will be visiting Kenya in December, and I was wondering if it is possible for me to visit the village, just to learn more (as a young woman) from my elders, and to share ideas.
Love and solidarity,
Grace
Congrtas
oh that is a great initiative. Those women and girls are going to appreciate.
"Our time has finally come"