SECOND ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICA LOCAL

GOVERNMENT AND GENDER JUSTICE

PROJECTS: WOMEN

SUMMIT AND AWARDS

EMPOWERMENT

28 – 30 MARCH 2011
KOPANONG HOTEL, JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA
“365 DAYS OF LOCAL ACTION TO END GENDER
VIOLENCE: HALVE GENDER VIOLENCE BY 2015”

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING
THIS PROBLEM?
• As a unit in BULAWAYO City Council the Home Industries unit has
an outreach programme which networks and links with
PROJECTS: WOMEN

stakeholders which include the Social Welfare department,

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churches, residents associations and other organisations.

• These organisations together with the unit identify the needs of
vulnerable women and girls, these include survivors of gender
based violence , widows some of whom are victims of inheritance
squabbles with in-laws over property left by the deceased
husbands .
• Girls that have gone through Home Industries are usually high
school dropouts.
• These women and girls in difficult circumstances need to be
empowered with skills that they can use to be able to generate
income ,they take care of themselves and their families and
stress management ultimately go on with their lives.

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 IS THIS ISSUE IMPORTANT?
PROJECTS: WOMEN

• This issue of assisting women in difficult

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circumstances is very important . It contributes

positively towards poverty alleviation.

• The beneficiaries are able to earn a decent living.

Through this unit Bulawayo is helping achieve goal 1
and 3 of the millennium development goals

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 HOW ARE YOU GOING ABOUT
ADDRESSING THI S PROBLEM?
PROJECTS: WOMEN

• The skills courses which they go through include

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basketry, knitting using knitting machines, sewing

including embroidery, peanut butter making and
others .
• Refrences
• Presentations

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 WHAT IS THE TIME-FRAME FOR THE
PROJECT?
PROJECTS: WOMEN

• On Going
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BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 WHO IS THE KEY TARGET? WHO IS
INVOLVED? ARE WOMEN AND MEN
EQUALLY INVOLVED?
PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT

• Women and girls are the key target.

• Bulawayo City Council and interested partners

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 PARTNERSHIPS FORMED THROUGH THE
PROJECT
PROJECTS: WOMEN

• NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS
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• GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE

• MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE

• SISTER SECTIONS,CHURCES AND RESIDENCE ASSOCIATIONS

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 RESOURCEFULNESS: WHAT FINANCIAL,
HUMAN AND OTHER RESOURCES WERE
MOBILISED?
PROJECTS: WOMEN

• This an on going project funded through the council budget

,the instructors are council employees .The centre was built
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and equipped by the council .The day to day running is all

done by council.
• Bulawayo Home Industries strongly believes in the
participatory approach as such working structures are in

place, participants choose supervisors, chairpersons, and

secretaries .
• Entrepreneurship skills are also imparted during training and
the they sell the products they make during training and the
proceeds go towards the upkeep of the centre.

• The sense of ownership is created in order to account for

every activity.

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
PROJECTS: WOMEN

• Bulawayo Home Industries has an in built monitoring and

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evaluation system and once every quarter conducts an

evaluation exercise together with the participants.

• The supervisors and council staff do take stock of every

activity.

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED?
• Home Industries Training Centre was established in 1969.
• Over the years council `s Home Industries has been able to
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change the lives of women and girls through skills that

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enable them to earn a decent living.

• In 2010, 75 women were trained in basketry ,10 women
were trained in peanut butter making, 23 women were
trained in knitting, 30 women were trained in embroidery.
(138). Refresher Courses (433) – Total 571
• For the past five years beneficiary statistics are as follows:-
• Year Producer Trainee
2006 40 63
2007 30 111
2008 18 63
2009 29 136
2010 (see paragraph 3, above)

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 IMPACT (BASED ON THE SADC
PROTOCOL TARGETS)
PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT

• The project is helping achieve the women

empowerment target thereby reduce poverty.-Articles
15-19 SADC Protocol

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 EFFECTIVENESS
PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT

• The project is effective . Women who have been

trained through this project are able to pay their
bills ,pay their children`s school fees etc using the
income they generate from the sale of the wares they
make.

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 SUSTAINABILITY AND REPLICATION
PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT

• The project is sustainable .The raw materials are

natural fibres.

• Shinda cotton is locally produced.

• It can be replicated by other local authorities,

relevant government ministries and even non-
governmental organisations.

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 LESSONS LEARNED

• A local authority can help reduce poverty among women by

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providing appropriate facilities where they can acquire skills

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that they can use to earn a living.

• The importance of networking amongst stakeholders.

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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 THANK YOU
PROJECTS: WOMEN
EMPOWERMNT

ANY QUESTIONS?

JUDITH MKWANDA

BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL

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