Women across Differences
I am strong
I can take care of myself
I can reach out to others
I know when to let go
My assignment in Guyana as an Organizational Development Adviser has led
me into a variety of NGO’s and Ministries that provide services and programs
that contribute to the social and economic empowerment of youth in the Guyana.
Our team is to analyse the current situation for an organization based on
4 broad areas; External Environment; Motivation; Technical Capacity,
Performance and to conduct a Baseline Study. The final report will provide
recommendations and implications for Cuso and can also serve as an internal
management tool for a variety of purposes such as a planning document, identifying areas
for improvement and identify training & capacity needs.
So enough of the corporate
speak and let me introduce you to one very special organization! There are more
to come on a future blog.
Women across
Differences (WAD) was established
in 1996 as a group of women from a variety of backgrounds that wanted to
advocate for change on behalf of women in Guyana. Members of WAD participate in a
variety of national consultations on social and economic issues such as the
National Poverty Reduction Strategy, Domestic Violence, the National Commission
on the Family and the Guyana Youth Policy.
Over the years,
WAD has been able to facilitate the self- development of its members through
the delivery of several training programs; Personal development (including
gender socialization), Workers Rights, Community Facilitation, Leadership
Development, Gender Based Violence and others.
In 2008 WAD
partnered with United Nations Population Fund to implement a pilot project for
adolescent mothers in Guyana to work towards reducing unplanned pregnancies
among adolescent mothers. In 2010 there were 2,840 births (21% of the total
births) were among girls aged 15-19, and 143 of those births were among girls
under 15 years. A study conducted during the period of 2009-2012
indicated that 22% of these young girls were raped and 60% of respondents
disclosed that their age of sexual initiation started at 12 or younger.
The UNFPA –
commissioned a study entitled "The Plight of Adolescent Mothers"
below is a link to the study, this report highlights the voices of 23 young
adolescent mothers. If you have some time read their stories, it is a complex
situation and not easily solved.
I have loved meeting the women involved with this
organization; from the staff, members, young mothers, graduates of the
program and volunteers they are passionate and committed to supporting each
other and adolescent mothers in Guyana. One evening I was doing a focus group at
one of their monthly membership meetings and I asked why their work is
important?
One member said: "It is important for me as a
parent. They reached out to my daughter to comfort her as a teenage mother and
be an outsider that understands. I have learnt that as a parent I didn't reach
out before, once I saw the difference that WAD made for my daughter I wanted to
join. I want to help others as WAD helped my daughter." Another
woman said " I was a teen age Mother I know how ashamed and alone you
feel, with no one to help you."
The other week I travelled to
a village outside of Georgetown to meet with another group of young mothers at
a local health clinic. While we were waiting a 13 year old girl arrived
with her Auntie because of stomach pains, while meeting with the nurse she
disclosed that a male relative had been sexually assaulting her the past month.
She was living with her Grandmother because her Mother didn't want to or couldn't look after this daughter
anymore. She would not say who the man was but apparently he was providing
financial support for the grandmother who was also looking after 4 other
grandchildren. Clonel the Coordinator for WAD interviewed the girl and called
Child Protective Services but three hours later they had still not arrived. The
Doctor although required by law refused to get involved and report the incident
to the police or Child Protective Services. Shortly after the Grandmother
arrived and said the girl was lying, of course the reality is within the
culture these are private matters to be dealt with at home and this man was a
source of financial support to a family in a difficult situation. Finally with no support from
the Doctor or Child Protective Services and the Grandmother’s refusal to report
the incident or let he young girl be accompanied to a shelter with
Clonel she had to return home with the Grandmother.
We will not forget the look on her face
when she turned around to say goodbye as she walked down the road with her Grandmother
& Auntie. We were very worried about what would happen to the young girl
that night especially if she would be safe! We learnt the next day that Clonel
had taken the family's information and immediately contacted the head of Child
Protective Services when we returned to town. They contacted the Grandmother to
bring the girl into Georgetown; the young girl insisted that she wanted to be
brought into town so by the next day she was under the custody of CPS's.
We will never know whether the
perpetrator will be dealt with or if she will return home but regardless that
young girl is courageous and a survivor!
I want to mention that despite the fact
that the staff are paid very low wages, the working conditions are less than
ideal and they receive no funding from the government they continue to have a
positive and in some cases a profound impact on some of these adolescent
mothers.
In a focus group, six of the girls had finished their CXC's on their own (often they cannot return to their high
school), have jobs even though the pay is small, and more importantly they believe they are not alone, have more self-esteem and are strong."
