And it all started on ecademy
April 16, 2010 By View Comments
I can't remember when or how I connect with Gerd but before long we were talking baskets the ones that house dogs to be exact.
Gerd is a Vet based in Naarden in The Netherlands. He had been thinking about adding hand made baskets for cats and dogs, as well as dog collars as part of his offering in his practice when I turned up.
I didn't have these at Ethnic Supplies but as luck would have it I was on my way out to Rwanda so I was confident that I could help.
The dog collars arrived, and although the women had done a great job , they were not suitable for what Gerd had in mind. The samples were free but being a generous soul Gerd donated £50 to the charity LTHT . This is still on drawing board.
I got to Rwanda and presented the idea to the KIAKA co-op. They got to work and before I knew it the Rwanda government had sent me two large boxes containing samples of the baskets. I was faced with a new dilemma how was I going to get the baskets to the Netherlands?
I called Gerd and told him about the baskets, next thing I knew I had the tallest Dutch men I had ever seen were standing in my living room one Saturday afternoon:-) Gerd and his friend had come to collect the baskets!
Gerd was so impressed with the women's work that he has since placed an order for 40 of these baskets he has also become interested in the idea of helping African women help themselves out of poverty through trade and not AID
What started as a random connection as far as I could see has produced some amazing results, I have gained a new friend both for the women I work with as well as for myself, a new customer as well as a whole new market that I previously had no access to.
That almost sounds too god to be true but then that really is the value of networking you just never know where it will lead you!
Should Women in Africa care about International Women’s day?
March 8, 2010 By View Comments
It is I
nternational Women’s Day a day to celebrate women’s achievements. This year’s theme is equal rights, equal opportunities and progress for all.
Very good I say but the cynic in me can’t help but ask what this really means for women in Africa especially the poorest in African communities?
Late last year I was introduced to a group of internally displaced refugees from Northern Uganda, that have become known as the Women Of Kireka (WOK). These women fled the war in Northern Uganda and ended up on a quarry in Kireka a suburb of Uganda. I had the opportunity to meet these women after a chance meeting with @tmsruge on twitter. Find out how that went on this short video clip.
A lot has happened to improve equal right and equality of opportunity for women and one could say that we are almost there. But what can be done for women in Africa? is it right that women should pass their days working on a quarry to feed their children?
The women know this is no way to earn living and are fighting back by making hand made jewellery from paperbeads.
http://projectdiaspora.org/2010/01/23/women-of-kireka-jewelry-shoot-in-kampala-uganda/
If equality of opportunity and progress for all are to be experienced by all then we should all be doing our bit to end the unfair situations that women such as the WOK find themselves in.
I do wonder sometimes whether we are fighting a losing battle. Strange thing to say I know, following that visit to the quarry Teddy, Kayongo and I were at a diaspora conference in Kampala. I was shocked to hear one of the politicians dismiss our efforts to extend equality of opportunity to these women. If current and aspiring politicians do not acknowledge the existence of these women ans their circumstances, can they realistically hope to ever have a better life for themselves and their children?
When will those rights that women fought for all those years ago on the first ever International Women’s Day be felt by the Women of Kireka in Uganda?
Have you got a view? Then let’s here ?
The economic consequences of domestic violence
October 16, 2009 By View Comments
When I was at University one of the core modules for my area of study Housing Management and development was DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE LAW. Domestic violence was considered in the context of property rights but for the purpose of this article I would like to look at the impact of domestic abuse on the economy.
A tall order perhaps but bear with me whilst I illustrate my point.
The fact about domestic abuse is that it ebbs away at the confidence and self esteem of the person at the receiving end of it. It makes them question their self worth making ineffective in all areas of their lives.
Imagine if you will a woman who is responsible for ensuring that the family is fed, clothed and has to work the land to grow the food to feed the family but is beaten by her spouse on a daily basis!
In some cases she is indeed the sole bread-winner in the family as the man’s income is spent on alcohol! What sort of life would children growing up in such a household have to look forward too!
It is widely accepted well as least in the case of African countries that the economic development of these countries rests with women. That being the case what would happen if women are ordinarily unable to participate in economic generating activities due to domestic abuse?
Does society owe such women the duty of care to secure the economic development of a county? What form should that care take?
I am happy to note that in Nigeria steps are being taken to address the issue of domestic abuse. The idea is to provide some for of safe house for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. You can read the rest of the story here
The question is most African countries are so conservative, how will such a facility go down in society? Will women have the courage to seek support and refuge in such a facility?
What will their peers make of it?
My first job as a Social Housing practitioner saw me in charge of just such a facility here in the UK and it gave women new hope and a chance to rebuild their lives and those of their children.
I am therefore hopefully that this type of facility becomes common practice in African countries too.
As usual your points of view are welcome