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Events - Current and Forthcoming
CURRENT EVENTS - January 2008
8th, 9th and 10th January
Exchange programme was held with the participation of Matara, Hambanthota and Balangoda staff on the 8th and 9th of January
The programme was the second step in an exchange programme held earlier this year. The staffs of Matara and Hambanthota were facilitated by the staff of Balangoda on the function of Collectives. The earlier exchange was before we launched the collectives of Matara and Tangalle this time it was aimed at expansion of the collectives and accounts keeping.
12th, 13th and 14th of January
Workshop on Domenstic Violence
Venue: Chinthana Centre
Kantha Shakthi held a three day residential workshop on domestic violence at Chinthana Centre, Naina Madama. The participants were 14 married couples.
The workshop was an immense success. 14 men who took part in the workshop experienced positive change as was outwardly visible as was expressed by them.
“We have been married for 16 years but today is the happiest day in my life” one husband said. Another couple who were separated for many years became united and have renewed their relationships.
The workshop ended with a simple ceremony of exchanging the “rings of love” presented by Kantha Shakthi symbolising mutual understanding and bonds of love between the couples.
14 men who attended the workshop are now willing to join hands in combating violence against women.
Objectives
To eliminate domestic violence in 14 selected families
This workshop was held within the frame work of long term commitment of Kantha Shakthi to create happy and peaceful family based on mutual understanding, love, respect and equality.
Addressing effectively men involved in domestic violence is rare and unique experience and Kantha Shakthi is looking forward to sharing this innovative endeavour with other organisations- local and foreign.
18th and 25th January
Women’s Day 2008
Kantha Shakthi proposed to have joint women’s day celebrations for the 8th of March 2008. Responding to an email Kantha Shakthi sent out on the 31st of December 2007 many organisations working on the women’s issue came to the Kantha Shakthi office to plan the women’s day of 2008 Date: 18/01/2008
Time: 3.30pm-5.30pm
Venue- Kantha Shakthi Office
The participants-
Dulcy de Silva- Lakbime Mauvaru Saha Diyaniyo
Malathie Bavaratnam- Women’s Education and Research Centre
Chulani Kodikara- Muslim Women’s Research and Action Forum
Viola Perera- Women and Media Collective
K.G.K Weeraratne- Vahilihini Development Centre
Sriyani Udawatta- Oxfam GB
Rohini Weerasinghe, Jagath Siriwardena, Ruwani Renuka and Wasana Weeraratne from the Kantha Shakthi Organisation
Rohini Weerasinghe welcomed all those who attended the meeting. She said in response to her letter dated 31/12/2007 suggesting the need for a united women’s day several organisations suggested that Kantha Shakthi convene a meeting to discuss the women’s day. Kantha Shakthi has convened this meeting in accordance with that request.
Those who attended the meeting reached the following decisions:
- to celebrate the women’s day on Saturday march 08th 2008 in Colombo
- the ‘war’ should be the main theme of the event
- to commemorate the women’s day with a demonstration and a public meeting
- to see that we hold a very effective and powerful meeting
- to hold a press conference prior to March 08th
- to plan the women’s day in such a way to go in to a long term plan within the context of the prevailing economic political social context of Sri Lanka
- each organisation to ensure the participation of as many women as possible for March 08th
- each organisation to bear the participants cost of travelling and food
- kantha Shakthi took the responsibility to book a venue for march 08th
- women and media collective agreed to get media publicity and corporation
- every body agreed to formulate the theme when she or he comes for the next meeting
- to hold the next meeting on 25/01/2008 (Friday) at 10am at Kantha Shakthi office
25th January 2008
We decided to have a very effective meeting for the 8th of March 2008 with the participation of around 300 women leaders and men. The meeting will focus on three main aspects of the current crisis of Sri Lanka. There will be three group discussions on those themes. Wide media coverage is to be sort to provide a wider audience to these issues.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS - December 2007 Onwards
The Project activities from July 2007 to June 2008- ME
Setting up women’s trade clusters
Objective
To strengthen the capacity of women to overcome the practical problems starting from production to sale of their goods.
The trade clusters intend to assist women to solve shortage of labour,accessing information and training in improving production, means of transport, identifying direct selling points bypassing the middle persons. To begin with, Kantha Shakthi will set up a cluster for tea and encourage other products such as vegetables and fruits, flowers, handicrafts and so on to learn from the tea cluster. Kantha Shakthi will assist the tea growers in accessing various facilities and services and setting up the trade centre. It is important to provide some assistance in transport for about 3 to 4 months. In the mean time the women are encouraged to start a fund and build up their own transport. A minimum of seventy two women are expected to join the tea cluster.
Expected outcome
50 women directly access market for their green tea leaf.
Upgrading women’s Wednesday market
To support marginalized women in six difficult and remote villages to overcome the existing constraints in accessing this market.
The women in six villages cannot bring their produce to the market due to lack of transport. At the moment big retail traders don’t come to this market because there are not enough goods. Kantha Shakthi intends to provide limited support to small groups to bring their produce to the market and at the same time direct them to develop their own strategies to continue.
Expected outcome
30 women from remote villages overcome obstacles in transporting their produce to the market.
Goods and people increased in the Wednesday market.
Women’s strength and solidarity become visible.
Training for self employment
Objective
To enable women to earn an income
Total number of women needing training - 106
Training is needed in the following for 45 women to start self employment by using locally available raw material and resource persons.
Candy and soft drink making-15
Handicrafts - 20
Brooms and ekel brooms making- 10
Note - handicraft training is needed for making women’s items using four kinds of natural plant and palm fibre and leaves. The training will take about 6 months.
Training is needed for 61 women for which resource persons from outside the project area need to be channeled in the following to start self employment
Food processing - 5
Soap making - 10
Incense stick making - 9
Bridal and Hair dressing - 7
Small business management- 30
Expected outcome
50 women earn income by using the skills learnt at the training.
20 women organize business more systematically than before.
Educational programs
It is proposed to have 4 educational programs in selected village locations by using video and audio documentaries, on HIV Aids and sexually transmitted diseases and violence against women. Awareness raising of men will be done on these occasions by facilitating their participation in the discussion.
Objective
To create an opening in the community for discussing the above issues.
To win cooperation of the community to eliminate violence against women.
Expected outcome
30 men and women cooperate with kantha shakthi on the issues affecting women in their villages
Campaigns
Objectives
To raise awareness of the public on women’s rights, social justice, peace and tolerance
Campaign on International women’s day to be held jointly with Polhena and Tangalla on violence against women, women’s rights and other issues.
Campaign to kindle love and tolerance in people - ( Kantha Shakthi conducted this program using refine songs and music in Anuradhapura in June 2007. The women who participated in this event found it to be highly inspirational and said that they experienced a change of heart. After that there are requests to hold the program for a bigger audiences in the three locations. This activity is a response to that request. )
.
Campaign against alcoholism, sexual abuse of young women, suicide
to be launched in the ME project areas.
Expected outcome
Those who watch the demonstrations become aware of the problems women facing
People’s support for the work of Kantha Shakthi towards social justice and peace increased.
25 young women become assertive about their rights.
Selling of alcohol in the villages reduced
Dialogue on domestic violence
Objective
To motivate families with domestic violence to start the process of transforming themselves to non- violent families.
Domestic violence affects women and children in a number of villages. Kantha Shakthi proposes to allow a selected number of families with domestic violence to spend a day with peaceful families in a relaxed atmosphere. Kantha Shakthi will work out a program for the families to engage in activities and discussions together. Two men who are against violence will take part in the program. Kantha Shakthi will also see whether it can get a good counsellor to participate in the program. ( this can be difficult ) Husband and wife from each family will take part in the activity along with small child / children who are too small to leave behind. The social mobilisers from the respective villages and two staff from Kantha Shakthi will also participate.
Target group - 10 families facing domestic violence and 5 peaceful families
Duration of the program - 1 day ( + 2 half days for traveling)
Number of participants - approx 50
Venue - to be selected in a peaceful and relaxed setting
Expected outcome
Peaceful relations developed in 8 families
Exchange visits
Objective
To provide opportunity for the participants to correct the shortcomings of the groups and the collectives
To explore jointly the strategies of building self sustainability of the small groups.
During the last two years women of Matara and Tangalla have made remarkable progress in terms of economic gains, solidarity, skill development, personality development and leadership. Exchange visits to these two areas will enrich the experiences of women of small groups of Balangoda. It will be of benefit to those women in Matara and Tangalla too.
Expected outcome
60 small groups resolve to overcome their shortcomings
9 Collectives identify their weaknesses
4 collectives overcome their short comings
30 groups resolve to develop the capacity for self sustenance
Expansion started in 2006
Last year the project expanded to three new locations and the work in these locations will continue. These are marginalized and isolated villages and there are no buses beyond a certain point. The position of women is worse due to alcoholism of men and violence. In the light of these circumstances it is important to continue working in these three villages. However, funds should be allocated for the mobilizers to cover the areas for which there is no bus service.
Expected outcome
60 new women join the small groups
New Expansion
There are requests for further expansion, not only from Balangoda but from Matara and Tangalla also. However, the human and financial resources of the organization do not allow such expansion at the moment in Balangoda where the expansion already started is a challenge. It is also not feasible to expand without a strategic plan in view of the tremendous impact brought to bear on the organization, caused by the growth up to now.
Interventions in crisis,emergencies and conflicts
Objective
To strengthen the capacity of women to cope with crisis
The small fund provided for the social mobilizers last year for interventions in crisis and emergencies related to violence against women, conflicts and accidents proved to be of great benefit to women and this should continue in the coming year too. .
Expected outcome
Capacity of 10 women to cope with crisis improved
Training in management
Objective
To improve the efficiency of the project
A major draw back of the ME project is that it never had training in management. This has caused several problems and short comings for the project. It is also very important that the mobilisers are given enabling training to develop the self management capacity of the small groups and the collectives so that the burden of the organization is reduced. Therefore it is proposed to have two workshops as mentioned below.
1 day workshop to identify the training needs
Target group – twelve mobilisers, two office staff of Balangoda and the Program officer of Colombo office.
3 day training workshop
Target group - twelve mobilisers and office staff of Balangoda and the Program officer of Colombo office
Expected outcome
Management capacity of 10 mobilisers and 10 leaders of the Collectives improved
Young women’s Project
Two workshops on gender, women and men
Objective
To build the capacity of young women to face the challenges in their life.
Target group - 30 young women
The shortage of funds for the ME project does not permit the inclusion of all the needs of young women. This project application requests funds to do the two (one day each) workshops mentioned above. Kantha Shakthi hopes to approach AUSAID, Colombo for funds for other activities for young women.
Strategic Planning
Objective
To gain a clear understanding of the present position of Kantha Shakthi and plan the future direction.
As mentioned in the section under Issues and Needs, a strategic plan is needed for Kantha Shakthi to decide its future activities and direction. It is proposed to prepare a plan for the next five or ten years. The ME project and the post tsunami work and the children’s forum of Kantha Shakthi has begun to impact on the organization, necessitating new planning. In view of shortage of funds for ME project the costs of the strategic plan is shown in the post tsunami budget.
Activity - Awareness raising on women’s issues
Objective
To strengthen the knowledge and information base of social mobilisers with a view to enable them to raise awareness of small groups
This intends to comply with the need felt by the mobilisers. Kantha Shakthi proposes to hold two workshops for the mobilisers and a limited number of women from small groups. The themes of the workshops will be decided later in consultation with them.
Number of workshops- 2
Duration of each work shop - 2days.
Target group - 30 (social mobilisers and reps of small groups)
Venue - Matara or Tangalla
Activity - Training in management
Objective
To increase the efficiency of the social mobilisers to carry out the project activities.
Target group -12 social mobilisers of Polhena and Tangalla and 2 staff from Colombo office
Duration of the workshop - 2days
Venue - Colombo or Matara
Activity -Health clinic
Kantha Shakthi proposes to hold two health clinics in the two locations to comply with the request of the women of small groups for information on health related issues. The clinics will be held in the women’s villages in Polhena and Tangalla by the health personnel locally available. The issues to be dealt with at the clinics will depend on the kind of resource persons available but will include important health issues that affect women’s every day life.
Objective
To improve women’s access to information on health with a view to help them to deal with health related issues in daily life.
Number of clinics to be held - 02 (one clinic in each location)
Duration - 01 day each
Venue - Polhena and Tangalla
(it is likely that we will have to hire a venue)
Activity - New Expansion
Responding to women’s repeated requests for a long time, the mobilisers in Tangalla started forming small groups in Mara kolliya and Yayawatta in May 2007. These communities are also affected by tsunami. Similarly, the women affected by tsunami in Madiha village, next to Plohena want Kantha Shakthi to come there. The mobilisers of Polhena are about to start doing ground work in Madiha for the new expansion. Kantha Shakthi proposes to continue working in the three settlements mentioned above in the coming year.
Activity -Emergencies, crisis and conflicts
Like in Balangoda, the social mobilizers face problems in the field due to the above and they are forced to intervene and help the women in such difficulties. Therefore a small emergency fund is included in the budget to enable the mobilizers to cope with the issues mentioned.
Activity -Strategic Plan
Objective
To assess the current situation of the organization and plan its direction in the future.
Background
The ME project in Balangoda and post tsunami projects in Polhena and Tangalla have produced impressive results. In Balangoda, the children’s forum also has come to impact on the ME project and on the organization as well. The young children with whom we started in 2004 have now reached adolescence and they are showing lot of leadership potential . There are several requests from the neighbours as well as distant areas, for Kantha Shakthi to come to their areas. There is also a huge output of women’s products.
All the project areas also feel the impact of women’s emerging leadership.
The organization has reached a critical juncture with these these changes and achievements. It is important now to decide where should the organization go from here and how and for this purpose a strategic planning workshop is necessary.
Brief outline of strategic planning workshop
Participants - All the stake holders of the organization will have to participate in strategic planning, namely members of the executive committee, selected number of social mobilizers from the three districts, office bearers of 12 collectives,office staff- Colombo & Balangoda, and advisors, and a limited number of representatives of small groups.
The process - Before the planning workshop proper, the consultants will visit the fields for preliminaries. After the workshop, the mobilizers will be assigned planning related work to be done in the field. And at the end the final session of the workshop will be held.
Venue The main workshop will be residential and needs a spacious and peaceful venue.
Activity - Continuation of on going activities