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Momodou
Denmark
11717 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Dec 2006 : 18:34:35
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WODD Organises Literacy Evaluation Seminar
By Isatou Bittaye and Amie Sillah
Women in Democracy and Development (WODD), in collaboration with the People’s Centre, ABFZ of S-Women and Sweden organized a two day Evaluation Seminar on women literacy on the 9th and 10th December 2006 at the Simmer vocational Skills Training Centre in Bundung.
The objective of the seminar was to evaluate the work women have been doing in the area of literacy and women empowerment during the last 5 years from 2001-2006. Mrs. Haddy S. Njie (Hata) chaired the session. She was later assisted by Ms. Naffisatou Secka.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Amie Sillah, coordinator of WODD said that there is no difference between women in the Gambia and those elsewhere. She added that they need to build a partnership based on solidarity in order to promote the welfare and well being of women the world over Mrs. Sillah indicated the WODD is non-partisan and that its mission and vision is to empower Gambian women though the acquisition of literacy skills, civic awareness, participation and economic activities.
Honourable Haifa Sallah, the Minority Leader of the National Assembly stressed that humankind has a common destiny. He said there are some people who want to impose their will on others through unilateralism, always come to realize in the end that it is not sustainable. Mr. Sallah asserted that options that face humanity are we either live in tyranny and poverty or we live in liberty and prosperity and we have to choose between the two.
He agreed that the task before us in the 21st century is to choose Democracy and Development, and it is people who can bring about Democracy and Development.
Halifa challenged that each individual has a choice to make, either to live and be controlled by tyranny and poverty or to live in dignity, liberty and prosperity. He said that the task before people is to help others gain consciousness, that in them lies the power and ingenuity to transforms their reality.
He stressed on the issue of Gender quality, that it is not about competition between men and women but cooperation, that each is important in society. Mr. Sallah informed the gathering that WODD has secured a printing Machine from their partners and that it will foster the issue of sustainability in its operation that it would try to engage in production that will generate resources for the sustenance of the printing operations and WODD activities.
Mrs. Amie Sillah dilated on women’s Rights, and international conventions and local initiatives. She indicated that the women movement started in the 1970s and that women all over the world faced the same problems and that is Marginalisation and lack of due recognition.
She said that African Women face problems such as forced marriages, child battering, wife buttering, physical abuse, wife inheritance and female genital mutilation etc
She added that with democracy, empowerment and education the African women and men will be free or emancipated from the burden that characterised their lives. Madam Jessica from Swedish S-women indicated that women are not given their way to fight for their rights and freedom. She said that women have less political power than men and they are maltreated because they are women.
Jessica added that men make women as objects, subject them to threats and violence and making them feel invisible. She elaborated on the five domination techniques.
- Invisibility/ Making Women Invisible-
This takes place when women one ignored or passed by. It’s a reminder to women that their opinions are unimportant and don’t count as much as men’s opinions
-Ridiculing/Belittling
Ridiculing/Belittling takes place when women’s efforts and accomplishments are mocked and laughed at. It also occurs when women are compared to animals, like chicken Other examples are when women are said to be too sensitive and when their feelings and actions are characterised as sexual or biological.
These things are not said about men.
-Withholding Information
Withholding Information takes place when women don’t receive the same opportunity to take part of information at work and in politics. One can also argue that withholding information takes place when women’s work and accomplishments are ignored and not recognised.
-Dual Punishment
Is when women are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. One example is when activist women are blamed for high divorce rates and an absence from the home but at the same time accused of not taking part in party politics as much as they should.
-Creating Shame and Guilt
Guilt and shame are induced through double punishment and belittling. Women are told that their issues and suggestions aren’t good enough. The reason the men use to oppose women’s ideas might be that.
1 Women think and do things differently.
2 Women don’t have access to information controlled by men.
Rosalie and Helen from ABFZ gave lectures on study circles operation and how to start new study circle in one’s neighborhood.
An evaluation charts were pasted on the wall and participants and study circle leaders marked the charts according to priority. Charts asked about health issues, Democracy, Economic Projects, Literacy, Gardening /Farming, WODD, and Partnership.
More participants marked economic projects, health and Democracy as their priorities.
Fatou Manneh spoke about her organization, which specializes in raising awareness among immigrant communities. She conducts literacy classes, Skills training and organizes some economic projects for the members of her organization. She urged women to gave solidarity to each other.
Women study circle leaders give their experiences and urged WODD and its partners to help them initiate sustainable economic projects for dignified livelihoods.
The Evaluation seminar witnessed exciting cultural performances in the form of songs drama and dances.
The Evaluation seminar was a real success.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 113/2006, 18-19 December, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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