|
Momodou
Denmark
11852 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Mar 2008 : 19:03:41
|
As Women Celebrate International Women’s Day; Sukuta Women Gardeners Express Views
By Annia Gaye
International women’s day was celebrated on the 8 March, 2008 with the theme “the struggle for gender equality continues. The day was set aside to reflect on the concerns and strategic interest of women all over the world. As it is set aside for women to express their concerns, Sukuta women gardeners also share their concerns and the problems facing them at their work and family.
In an interview with women at their garden, on Monday 10 March, the president of Sukuta women’s garden, Ma Sirreh Jatta said the day is very important to women, especially in the Gambia. She said women face lots of problems in their homes and work places. She said she herself has a lot of problems to solve and that the only place she earns money is from her garden. “The vegetables I produce are sold in the market to pay my children’s school fees, feeding and all other things to settle at the compound” she explained. Ma Sirreh said that they face the problem of water, vegetable seeds and also fencing of their garden because animals come to destroy vegetables every day. She said they produce lots of vegetables like, carrot, onion, salad, cabbage and other vegetables but said the problems she mentioned affects them a lot. The Women Garden President calls on government, institutions and other NGOs to help them solve these problems. She also said women should be given their rights at home, work places and institutions to be among the decision makers. “Women also need freedom to decide their own lives” she said.
Ya Fatou Cham, a gardener, also acknowledged the importance of the International Women’s Day is important, noting that women are important elements in the society. She also explained the problems she faces in her garden, which she includes water, fencing and seeds which are needed to make her work easier. “I also face lots of problems at home like paying the children’s school fees, feeding and everything. I really need help to solve those problems” She said.
Another garden member, Mbara Bojang, also expressed similar concerns and noting that women are important and need respect and dignity in the society they live. She thanked the government who she opined have given women a voice and have included them in the government and decision making process. She challenged government to help women in everything they are doing and also support their work. “We need help from government” she said. Mbara congratulates all Gambian women and urged them to work harder so as to achieve their goals, even though, as she said, it is not easy for them.
For her part, Sara Drammeh congratulates all women throughout the country and expressed her happiness to be part of the celebrations. She noted the lots of problems that have been hindering their work as gardeners such as the lack of water and fencing at the garden. “We feed ourselves through this garden, therefore, we really need help from government and other NGOs,” she said.
Other women members, such as Isatou Cham, Penda Suwaneh, Jabal Jammeh and Fatou Bojang also highlighted the similar concerns and problems that they face as women and in the garden. They also reiterated the importance of the day and asserted that women need to be given their rights to live happily in their homes, the right to decision-making and also the right to be protected from all forms of violence and harassment in the society.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 32/2008, 17 – 18 March 2008
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
Topic Locked
