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LACK OF FUNDS, NOT SKILLS, HINDER WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN
RURAL AFRICA
Tosin Taiwo is the founder of
Street2School, an education-centric, non-profit organisation that provides
education opportunity to children in under-served communities. A voracious
social worker and volunteer, Tosin’s work is deep rooted in rural communities
where she helps to provide skills and empowerment in rural communities. This
experience has enabled her to understand the peculiar need and challenges of
out-of-school children and women in rural areas. At present, she coordinates a
mentoring program for High School girls in rural communities. Rural reporters
caught up her and asked her on her work on women empowerment in rural
communities and here is what she has to say:
From your experience (s) what are
some of the challenges faced by these women and how can these problems be
addressed? Tosin: Our work with vulnerable women began some 2 years ago when
we realised the need to empower women, especially mothers of sponsored
children. At our resource centre, we organise skill acquisition training
program for women, thus far we have trained about 60 women in soap making
skills, art of machine knitting, bead making, interior decorations and computer
skills. From my experience, I realised that the major challenge faced by these
women in rural area is not lack of skills nor ability, but poor access to
funding. Government truly need to come up with loan schemes for women in under
developed communities. It would help build a stronger family, a stronger
nation. It would foster business growth and development because when you invest
in a woman, she feeds herself, her family, her community and her nation. Women
need every support and it would not be a bad idea if every local government
area operates loan scheme for entrepreneur women.
Will you say that women are
taking up more leadership roles in their community (ies)? Tosin: The
statistics of women taking leadership roles in the community is still so
insignificant, however, change is gradual. I believe we are in the change
process already. The participation of women in leadership positions in the
community is budding up, because there is an increase in awareness of women’s
right and what the constitution says about women participation. In the community
where we serve, we have women who co-direct community affairs and
landlord/tenant development initiatives. We have women who are interested in
competing at the next elections. As I said earlier, change is gradual,
and we are hoping that more women would surmount those factors that are
responsible for low participation. Cultural beliefs, Religious Doctrines,
Women’s Misconception of Politics, Gender Roles etc are some of the identified
factors. We hope for change. . –
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