This partnership is made possible due to funding from Global Affairs Canada. The Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) project targets ten (10) communities. Five each in the Bolgatanga East and Nabdam districts, reaching three hundred (300) women directly.
This three (3) year project seeks to do two things. The first is to increase the willingness of women themselves to reject and help transform norms and practices that deny them the realization of their rights. Secondly, positively transform social norms. Cognizant of how cultural practices, “tradition” has and does enable many aspects of domestic violence (e.g. some widowhood rites), by contributing to developing new perceptions about gender equality to transform social norms.
To attain the objectives, the women were supported with logistics to meet at least twice a month to hold discussions and sensitisations on their rights. They also saved money and loaned it out to one another to start and or grow their businesses (Village Saving and Loans associates) Public service announcements on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence were developed on radio and via public address systems at three market centres reaching an average of two thousand five hundred (2500) people.
Thirty per cent (30%) of households targeted are successfully redistributing unpaid care work. Thirty per cent of knowledge increase in the rights of women and children has been achieved.
One hundred and fifty-five (155) women have accessed funds from the village saving and loans scheme to trade, farm, and meet their educational obligations.