CSOs CALLED ON TO TRICKLE DOWN THE CAUSE FOR GENDER ADVOCACY

CEW-IT UG   for the member organizations from west Nile, Northern, central, Teso region, and Rwenzori Region. RIC-NET had one staff kyomuhendo Joselyne in the training   the training that started on 15- 18^th October 2013, was facilitated by Institute of Social transformation (IST) .

A STAFF OF IST, FACILITATING ON GENDER

, A civil society based organization in Kampala held a three days Gender training

The objectives of the workshop were

·         To introduce the key concepts of Gender to CEW-IT members

·         To build capacity of CEW-IT  staff in skills  of Gender mainstreaming  transformative learning,  Gender equity & equality,  Justice and leadership  development

·         To build the capacity of staff that can recognize and act positively  to address gender injustices  in their families  workplace  and  areas of operation

SEASONAL CALENDAR  ANALYSES TIMING FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

 Introducing the concept of Gender Ms Aliyinza, one of the trainers from Institute of social transformation noted that gender advocacy is a journey that takes years because it requires change of mind and attitude on the different stereo types in the society.  Participants shared how Gender is addressed in their organizations and some of the ways noted were: Encouraging the participation of men and women in the staff and community meetings, representation of male and female in the Neighbourhood assemblies, advocacy   for Male and Female related concerns, sharing information related to Gender, encouraging sharing of domestic work, equal treatment of male and female staff, involving the male and female in leadership structures, sensitivity in the timing of activities for the  community  . However it was noted that in families’ gender injustices involve the unequal treatment of boys and girls, lack of control and ownership of resources by women and at the workplace sexual harassment was noted as a common Gender injustice to be challenged by community.   The participants tested various tools in Gender Analysis as centering which is a meditation exercise that would  always open the sessions for training,  some other tools were daily schedule calendar, seasonal calendar   that  aligns the  CSOs work to community schedules.  Empowerment map, visioning and challenge tree  tools  for  community to use in empowering their financial, social, emotional, educational status.

A RIC-NET STAFF PRESENTS AT THE TRAINING

By the end of the three participants resolved among others to:

·         In house  orientation of   the other staff members in their organizations in issues of Gender

·         Share gender related information with partners using online platforms

·         Review of organizational policies to make  them Gender sensitive

·         Hold community sensitization meetings on Gender justice

At the close of the training the Executive Director Institute of social transformation noted called upon the CSOs to utilize the opportunity of the existing networks to trickle down the advocacy to the community level, she also challenged the participants to first change their attitude toward the Gender injustices around before they moving to influence the wider community. She noted: CHANGE BEGINS WITH YOU.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IST,  AT THE CLOSING REMARKS