Women's Groups General Information

Working toward women's empowerment enables you to support women in their pursuit for healthy and sustainable livelihoods. Women's groups provide a forum to address issues such as family health, women's rights, access to resources, income generation, literacy, and other challenges women face in their daily lives.

Volunteers have the opportunity to exchange ideas, collaborate in ongoing projects, teach conversational English, help with small businesses, and be a positive role model. You can also provide support in many other ways, depending on your skills and interests and the needs of the local organization. It is always important to take initiative, but also to defer back to the local women to understand the needs and goals of their organization.

One thing you will find is that teaching English will be a big aspect of your experience. Teaching English can be fun and it will also increase your ability to communicate with the women at your placement. Here are some websites that can help you prepare for this:
http://www.eslflow.com
http://www.caslt.org/research/music.htm
http://efl4u.com

It is always helpful to educate yourself on what issues women face throughout the world, and what women’s empowerment is all about. Here are some helpful links to organizations that are dedicated to working with women around the world:
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/
http://www.care.org/

Whichever activities you choose, working with Women’s groups can be fun! Offering companionship is one of the best contributions you can make. It is important to be a good listener and even if you don’t understand what the person is saying to you, let them talk and let your body language show that you are listening. A hug or a simple hand hold can make the difference for the people you are working with. Human connection is so important to fostering relationships and making a difference. Here is an activity that may be helpful for you to reflect on your relationships:
http://www.volunteerfamily.org/Share/Activities/WithPeople.aspx