Cyberstreet
Contributions of Civil Society Organisations to the Well-Being of Families
Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW)
Adress:
Mary Sumner House
24 Tufton Street
London
SW1P 3RB
United Kingdom
Contact person:
Christine Ro
Contact e-mail:
un@acww.org.uk
Telephone:
+44 (0)207 799 3875
Telefax:
+44 (0)207 340 9950
Homepage:
http://www.acww.org.uk
Content:
PROJECT 1
1. Project: Project 839 – “Training orphan girls for family life” – Luhansk, Ukraine
2. Objectives and purpose: The main aims were to develop brochures and multimedia materials and to hold classes on sexually transmitted diseases, family planning, reproductive health and child-rearing. The project was a response to the family life disadvantages affecting young women leaving orphanages in Ukraine. These women are often unprepared for independent life and face high rates of divorce, early motherhood and single parenting.
3. Beneficiaries and target groups: Over 500 orphaned girls and young women from 10 orphanages in the Luhansk region, 99 teachers, representatives of local women’s organisations and local government officials
4. Duration: November 2009-May 2010
5. Funding strategies: ACWW and its project partner, the Luhansk Regional Charitable Foundation, each contributed roughly half of the funding needed. The ACWW grant was administered through its Women’s Institutes Pennies for Friendship fund and the project was adopted by the Cumbria-Westmorland Federation of Women’s Institutes. The foundation used the ACWW funds to pay for training, administration, car travel, salaries and publications.
6. Co-operation partners: The Cumbria-Westmorland Federation of Women’s Institutes helped to fund the project. The Luhansk Regional Charitable Foundation carried out the project. Local women’s organisations and governmental authorities participated in roundtable discussions. And following the project, the regional department sought to utilise the project specialists more widely.
7. Monitoring: N/A
8. Evaluation: The project was evaluated through a questionnaire and evaluation sheets distributed to the orphaned individuals and teachers participating in the project. The foundation also utilised case studies to show the positive impacts of the project on individual beneficiaries. The foundation was awarded a diploma by the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports Affairs, which gave the project the highest evaluation rating in Ukraine.
9. Outcome and results: Psychological, medical and social support was provided for new mothers and other orphans in the form of mobile consultative stations as well as classes and video lectures on family life. The classes were taught by gynaecologists and social services employees specialising in family, children and youth. The foundation also organised seminars and trainings on innovative methods to teach the basics of family life to teachers at orphanages. Didactic materials were produced, including an annotated list of resources and teaching sheets. Additionally, in the towns where the 10 orphanages were located, roundtable discussions were held on orphans’ issues and the formation of family life skills. The success of the project led the regional department of education to consult the project specialists on a course to be taught at all Luhansk orphanages.
10. Written reports: The foundation submitted photographs as well as a progress report in March 2010 and the final report in May 2010.
11. Published reports: N/A
PROJECT 2
1. Project: Project 900 – “Support and committed action for remote, isolated and stigmatised families in areas of Ududumbara and Moneragela” – Ududumbara and Moneragela, Sri Lanka
2. Objectives and purpose: This was a comprehensive project to strengthen the life skills and income generating capacities of individuals, families and communities, including training in organic home gardening, child centred learning activities and crisis support.
3. Beneficiaries and target groups: Women, families and communities living in remote and isolated areas of Ududumbara and Moneragela who are affected by mental illnesses, HIV/AIDS and lack of resources
4. Duration: January 2012-January 2013
5. Funding strategies: ACWW provided funding through its Women’s Institutes Pennies for Friendship fund. The Kent West Kent Federation of Women’s Institutes adopted the project.
6. Co-operation partners: ACWW’s project partner was the organisation Nest, which implemented the project. The Kent West Kent Federation of Women’s Institutes, an ACWW member society, provided funding.
7. Monitoring: N/A
8. Evaluation: Nest took a case study approach to evaluating the success of the project, with individuals reporting greater income, improved health, etc.
9. Outcome and results: Project participants learned about vegetable and fruit gardening, cookery, and the construction of shopping bags out of recycled paper, all of which eased the financial burden on low-income families. Additional classes were provided on languages, skills development, creative activities for children, family and community care, and reduction of substance abuse. There was an advocacy component to the project as well, with Nest’s community health workers lobbying local officials on behalf of its beneficiaries.
As the project’s activities were wide-ranging, the outcomes were diverse as well. First, incomes of project participants, particularly women, increased. This was due to activities such as kitchen gardening, which had the additional benefit of improving nutrition. Second, community support systems were strengthened, for instance through the establishment of a community centre in one community and a home for the homeless in another. Third, family relationships were strengthened. The project resulted in expanded awareness of the needs of children and of issues that threaten family stability, such as substance abuse. Fourth, service provision was improved, as Nest provided support with transport and participated in local planning meetings, where it was able to raise community needs and influence local officials. These efforts led health officials to organise monthly mental health clinics in the absence of a psychiatric hospital in the area. Another advocacy success was the con!
struction of a road that increased the income of small stallholders who sold family produce locally. Government officers also began to visit the deprived areas thanks to Nest’s work.
10. Written reports: In addition to monthly updates, Nest sent a project report in June 2012, photographs in August 2012 and the final report in January 2013.
11. Published reports: N/A
PROJECT 3
1. Project: Project 902 – “Provision of clean water and sanitation for uplift of poor women\'s families” – Adamdighi, Bangladesh
2. Objectives or purpose: The project’s goal was to improve the health and hygiene of poor rural women and their families by setting up 5 hand tube wells for 50 families and 15 sanitary pit latrines for 75 families. The Platform of Women’s Empowerment and Rights (POWER) noted in its project application to ACWW that 30% of families in the area had no latrines, 30 children died each year from waterborne diseases and 50% of mothers suffered from diarrhoea, dysentery and other potentially fatal diseases.
3. Beneficiaries and target groups: 125 poor rural women and their families, selected based on need. This was measured by poverty level, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, incidence of waterborne diseases, lack of support from other agencies and recommendations from POWER’s working groups.
4. Duration: February-May 2012
5. Funding strategies: ACWW provided 75% of the funding. ACWW’s grant was made possible by two member societies, the Wisconsin Association for Home & Community Education (US) and Gwent Federation of Women’s Institutes (UK). Their donations were allocated to Project 902 through ACWW’s dedicated Water for All fund.
6. Co-operation partners: The Wisconsin Association for Home & Community Education and Gwent Federation of Women’s Institutes provided funding. POWER implemented the project.
7. Monitoring: Over the course of the project period there were periodic meetings of target groups and bimonthly project coordination meetings. Project beneficiaries participated in these meetings
as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the project.
8: Evaluation: In addition to project beneficiaries, POWER utilised experienced investigators in the area to assist with collecting information for evaluation.
9. Outcome and results: The initial planning took place in meetings with beneficiaries and representatives of women’s groups. The tube wells and latrines were then constructed, and POWER provided a one-day orientation on the maintenance of the facilities. The evaluation revealed minimised healthcare costs, improved living conditions and reduced incidence of waterborne diseases as a result of the project.
10 case studies were produced at the end of the project. The profiled individuals stated that due to improved health, they were able to increase their ability to work and thus their earnings. For instance, Sokhina no longer had to beg for money. Her family used its additional income to increase the number of meals each day from one to two, as well as to send the two children to primary school.
10. Written reports: POWER produced a progress report in April 2012 and the final report one month later.
11. Published reports: N/A