 The role of women in rural society is often limited and restrained due to a series of socio-economic and cultural barriers. For this reason, it has been vital to integrate the needs and views of women from the local communities, by encouraging processes of active participation and decision making at household and community level.
Alternative production practices have been a key factor to raising the social status of women, as well as a novel method to foster traditional knowledge recovery. As a result, various women’s associations have been able to diversify their income sources (vegetable plots, handicraft, food processing, medicinal plants, husbandry).
We have also endeavoured to create a broad awareness of the biases and asymmetry’s of gender participation. This has been facilitated by organising training workshops and exchanges, allowing families to reaffirm their identity and life-projects. Women have gained communication skills, political standing and self-confidence through their action, and have contributed to building a dynamic and unified community process. |
