THIS WEEK: HOW WOMEN ARE FINDING WAYS TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY.

4th March 2014, Volume 16 No. 16

• Development• Rights and Responsibilities• Human Dignity

CORE CONCEPTS

7 Dami Soro plants her seedlings exactly where the tiny holes in the irrigation pipes are, ensuring that the roots are gently but effectively kept watered.

This edition of InTuition focuses on the work Concern Worldwide is doing to help women in the developing world become more resilient and better able to deal with the effects of climate change in their lives.

On March 8th we will celebrate International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is Inspiring Change.

International Women’s Day is a day to recognise women and their achievements. It is also a day to refl ect both on progress made to date and the challenges women still face. Women today are still not getting the same opportunities as men.

They are less likely to get an education than their male counterparts. They are more likely to be paid less than their male colleagues. They face the danger of rape and domestic violence. They also bear the burden of child rearing and are responsible for growing, processing and preparing food for their families to survive. Too often, they are without any voice in making decisions that affect them.

Concern recognises that it is important to tackle inequality as part of our work in eliminating poverty. Around the world, Concern is working with women and women’s groups in lots of ways. Programmes for women are helping

them to receive an education, to start businesses, to farm more effectively and to be empowered to make decisions and become leaders. Giving women opportunities helps inspire change.

Concern is working with women to build their resilience*, to help them prepare and cope with the challenge of climate change and to reduce risk where they can. Concern is helping to empower women to make decisions about their households, their families and their futures.

Refl ection: What changes have there been for women since your mother’s time/ your grandmother’s time?

Investigate laws and customs affecting women in other parts of the world; for example in Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive.

*Resilience is having the strength to cope with diffi cult situations or times in our lives. It’s about being able to rise up after we get knocked down. Write a refl ection piece about a time you faced a challenge and needed to be resilient.

WOMEN INSPIRING CHANGEFIONA NALLY

Women and Climate ChangeWomen and Climate Change: One

major challenge in today’s world is that of coping with natural disasters and extreme weather. Around the world we are seeing the effects of climate change; weather patterns changing over time. Our earth’s temperature is heating up from an increase in greenhouse gases. Some of

that is believed to be caused by human activity such as industry pollution. As the earth heats up, weather becomes more erratic and less easy to predict. We see more storms, floods, droughts and extreme weather around the globe.

People living in extreme poverty suffer the most from climate change. Many rely on the food they grow to feed and provide for their families. Across Africa and in many less developed regions of Asia, the majority of farmers are women. They are responsible for farming the land and providing food for their family and the burden of climate change can fall hardest on them. Changeable weather makes it difficult for farmers to know when to plant and when to harvest. A ruined crop can lead to hunger and debt.

Although everyone can be affected by climate change, some parts of the world are more vulnerable than others. Coastal communities and low lying island communities face a constant threat from rising sea levels and typhoons such as the recent, devastating Typhoon Haiya in the Philippines back in November 2013. In developing countries, often the poorest communities live in areas prone to floods or storms. If disaster does strike, developing countries can find it difficult to respond without support and assistance from the rest of the world.

Community Leadership in BangladeshIn Bangladesh, one group of women have come together

to find solutions to the effects of climate change in their community. Their village is located in an area that experiences regular floods and cyclones. Their crop was frequently ruined by the storms and flood water and families went hungry as a result. The women of the village carried out most of the farming and also had to travel to bring water to their homes.

Concern started a programme with these women to help them prepare for the hazards of climate change. Although many women were responsible for their families and households, very few of them were involved in making any decisions about the community. Concern helped the village to start a community group. Women received training and support to become leaders. They learnt to speak up and to offer their ideas.

As leaders, the women have started to transform their community. They are building and encouraging others to build, storm resistant houses. Volunteer leaders go house to house to teach each other about ways of preparing for disaster and ways to reduce the risks. They are also coming up with solutions to improve their farms, such as rain water harvesting to help them have an accessible supply of clean water for their crops and vegetables.

Reflection: Think about the recent floods here in Ireland. How did they affect homeowners/business owners/farmers? Can we protect against future flooding? Who is responsible for responding in situations of severe storms or flooding?

Rebecca Sultana’s StoryBangladesh: Rebecca Sultana is

a mother of two children. She has a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. After her husband died, she had to try and provide for her family by herself. As a result of the cyclones in 2007 and 2009, the land she owned was flooded and her house washed away. She was left with barely enough to survive.

When Concern launched a project in her village to help the community with the problems relating to climate change, Rebecca became involved. She learnt how to protect her home from flood water and how to build a raised platform for growing vegetables. Her new kitchen garden

provides her with enough food for her children and even enough to sell so that she can start to save for the future.

She has also attended training programmes for local communities to increase their knowledge on the impact of climate change on their lives and livelihoods. Her confidence has increased through her involvement and she has inspired others to make changes to protect their own homes and livelihoods.

“This project has made me a spokesperson for my community. I’m so impressed when I see my community listening and responding to my call”, Rebecca says.

Women making their way through a dust storm following a long drought

in rural Kenya. 5

7Women collecting water, Bangladesh.

Rebecca Sultana collecting Country Bean from her kitchen garden in Gazipara Photo Mohammadur Rahman( Mahmood) December 2012. 3

Roseline is a young woman living in Haiti. Before the earthquake that struck in 2010, she was living in extremely poor conditions with her husband and children. Their house was destroyed during the earthquake and her husband was admitted to hospital, where he later passed away. All Roseline’s savings were spent on hospital bills leaving her vulnerable and without any means to provide for her family.

Natural disasters can leave women particularly vulnerable. There is less security during emergencies. Shelter might only be a tent or covering. Electricity and street lighting can be affected making it more dangerous after dark. Women needing to use latrines, may have to walk some distance to fi nd a hygienic and safe latrine. Often times in the aftermath of a natural disaster, there is simply no access at all.

Roseline was selected by Concern to join a special programme aimed at

helping extremely poor women. She received three goats, some training and money to start up a business. She learnt about how to look after the animals and how to get her business started. With the money she makes from selling baby goats, she has been able to open a bank account for the fi rst time in her life.

“I have goats and a business and now my children can eat. After my husband died, I had so many problems and did not know how I was going to look after my children. But because of the goats and my small business, I have money and am building myself a home.”

Although droughts and fl oods are cyclical and farmers have learned to adapt, the rising effects of climate change mean that these events are happening more often and more severely. Farmers are facing either longer periods of drought or more severe fl ooding. In developing countries, this can be a serious threat to livelihoods.

Disaster Risk ReductionDisaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is one

of the ways that Concern works with communities to help meet the challenge of disasters. Communities that are vulnerable are identifi ed and are trained and helped to plan for disasters. They look at ways that people can reduce the risk of disaster and they help plan so they can respond quickly.

The Dadu district of Pakistan was one of the worst affected districts by the devastating fl oods in 2010. Thousands of homes were washed away and millions had their livelihoods destroyed. In this area, as in most of Pakistan, communities were unprepared to deal with a disaster of this scale.

In 2012, Concern began a special programme with communities to help them to prepare for and respond to disasters. Under this programme, they have set up committees and Emergency Response Teams who are trained in disaster preparedness and have the tools

and knowledge to provide life-saving assistance in the event of a disaster.

Imamzadi is a primary school teacher and also one of the women selected to represent her community on the Disaster Management Committee. Imamzadi was determined to be a voice for women and represent them on the committee. She was trained in how to respond if a disaster strikes and she in turn is sharing her knowledge with other women.

Through its various programmes around the world, Concern is hoping to empower women. First to get the help they need, then to be able to help themselves. Finally, those women will help other woman. When women are able to make decisions, provide an income for themselves and their families, they grow in confi dence and inspire others.

Concern believes that encouraging and supporting women to overcome the challenges they face, will inspire change.

Conservation Farming is all about new ways for farmers to grow their crops. Concern trains “Lead Farmers” in techniques that include rotating crops and using natural fertilizers that can improve the soil and protect the soil from harsh sun, rain and wind. This way of farming is

better for the land and helps farmers to grow more crops.

Doris Malinga is a lead farmer in rural Malawi. She started conservation farming when she saw the success other farmers were having. She is now an example for others. Doris is able to grow more crops

than she could before. It is also easier because she has less digging to do with her new style of farming. Her family now have enough to eat.

“I have so many friends who also want to try conservation agriculture so I have been showing them what I learnt”.

Doris Malinga on her plot of land which she cultivated using the conservation farming method. Lilongwe, Malawi. Jennifer Nolan, 2012 3

7Doris Malinga showing her soya bean crop, Dwerog Field, Kabudula, Lilongwe District, Malawi. Jennifer O’Gorman/Malawi May 2012

Doris Malinga leads the way

Vulnerable Women

Erzulia Danus and her daughter Renette collect water in Tabarre Issa camp, after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Women are vulnerable after emergencies and need security and support. 3

1Widespread flooding and damage in Pakistan.

THIS WEEK: HOW WOMEN ARE FINDING WAYS TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY.

4th March 2014, Volume 16 No. 16

• Development• Rights and Responsibilities• Human Dignity

CORE CONCEPTS

7 Dami Soro plants her seedlings exactly where the tiny holes in the irrigation pipes are, ensuring that the roots are gently but effectively kept watered.

This edition of InTuition focuses on the work Concern Worldwide is doing to help women in the developing world become more resilient and better able to deal with the effects of climate change in their lives.

On March 8th we will celebrate International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is Inspiring Change.

International Women’s Day is a day to recognise women and their achievements. It is also a day to refl ect both on progress made to date and the challenges women still face. Women today are still not getting the same opportunities as men.

They are less likely to get an education than their male counterparts. They are more likely to be paid less than their male colleagues. They face the danger of rape and domestic violence. They also bear the burden of child rearing and are responsible for growing, processing and preparing food for their families to survive. Too often, they are without any voice in making decisions that affect them.

Concern recognises that it is important to tackle inequality as part of our work in eliminating poverty. Around the world, Concern is working with women

and women’s groups in lots of ways. Programmes for women are helping them to receive an education, to start businesses, to farm more effectively and to be empowered to make decisions and become leaders. Giving women opportunities helps inspire change.

Concern is working with women to build their resilience*, to help them prepare and cope with the challenge of climate change and to reduce risk where they can. Concern is helping to empower women to make decisions about their households, their families and

their futures. Refl ection: What changes have there

been for women since your mother’s time/ your grandmother’s time?

Investigate laws and customs affecting women in other parts of the world; for example in Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive.

*Resilience is having the strength to cope with diffi cult situations or times in our lives. It’s about being able to rise up after we get knocked down. Write a refl ection piece about a time you faced a challenge and needed to be resilient.

WOMEN INSPIRING CHANGE

WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY:

Fiona Nally, Concern Worldwide. DESIGN: INM Studio

WRITE TO US:Debbie Brennan, In.Tuition,

Irish Independent,27-32 Talbot Street,

Dublin 1.OR PHONE:

Customer Care Line at 023 32879

OR EMAIL US:intuition@independent.ie

Concern is a member of the Food Right Now movement which calls on all governments and world bodies to end hunger and ensure the right to food for all people, everywhere.

TAKE ACTION• Sign and Share our petition on Facebook: http://tiny.cc/concernhungerpetition • Investigate Climate Change and how it affects both our own future and life in the

developing world. • Write a blog (or come up with a Vlog) about a woman that has inspired you. You

can write about someone you know or someone famous alive today or the past. Concern will post the best entries on our site. Send your blog entries to schools@concern.net

• Read Sarahe’s story about life in a displaced person’s camp in South Sudan: https://www.concern.net/news-blog

• Contact Concern for further information: schools@concern.net• Follow us on facebook and twitter

www.facebook.com/concernworldwidewww.twitter.com/concern

• www.concern.netDownload or order a lesson plan on Inspiring Change

“Women are on the front lines. They grow, process and prepare; they gather water and wood and they care for those suffering from HIV and AIDS. Yet women lack access to credit, technology, training and services and are denied their legal rights, such as the right to land”

Kofi Annan, former UN, Secretary General

Suzanna Vumilia, Farmer. Masisi, North Kivu, DRC 3

Food Right Now is supported by the European Union