What Is the Women’s Self-Reliance Program
Mission Statement
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The purpose of this program is to help women in economically depressed situations to lift themselves up. We do this by bringing them information and courses of action which, when used in conjunction with their own skills and knowledge, will help them to provide a healthier and more comfortable life for themselves and their families. Information in the areas of nutrition, intensive vegetable gardening and micro-enterprise are offered.
Overview
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The nutrition segment provides a basic knowledge of our nutritional needs and how to meet those needs with the foods that are available to the women participating in the program, supplementing their existing menu, where necessary, with foods that will provide whatever nutrients that have been missing from their diet.
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The gardening method offered is an intensive gardening program, which has been developed under the names Square Foot Gardening, Square Meter Gardening and Global Grid Gardening. This method of growing, when combined with the use of organic and natural soil preparations and seeds, can contribute significantly to a family’s fresh food needs even in areas where there is very little arable land available.
The micro-enterprise segment concentrates on providing information that relates to operating a very small business, in other words, the basic skills of self-employment.
It is the intention of this program to respect, honor and learn from the people with whom we share the information we have gathered. We fully expect to learn as much, if not more, than we offer. It is our hope that whatever of value that we are able to bring to the situation will be shared with others who will in turn benefit. It is also our intention to take what we learn from the participants and integrate it into our program, thereby making it a living, growing, ever-improving product.
We have much to learn from one another and it is only through mutual respect and appreciation that we will be able to co-create a better world.
We believe all women can embrace who they are,
can define their future, and can change the world.
Goal of Women's Self-Reliance Program
The goal of the Women’s Self-Reliance Program is to help women in need of assistance to achieve a greater degree of self-reliance so that they and their children can live in relative comfort, safety and health and help to create a society that can live in peace and harmony.
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This is accomplished through
Food Security
The program provides the participants with a means to evaluate their current eating habits and determine what resources are available and what steps could be taken to improve their overall level of nutrition.
Intensive Gardening
Participants are introduced to a gardening technique that will enable them to take the fullest advantage of the land that is available to them (either their own property or a community site) to grow vegetables that will help them to provide a healthy and balanced diet for themselves and their families.
Self-Employment Opportunities
Participants are encouraged to explore potential income-generating activities that will help them to assist in their own financial security and that of their families. Assistance in procuring start-up funds may be provided via the Grameen Micro-enterprise Model.*
Community Building
The Women’s Self-Reliance Program cannot be successful without the establishment of a caring community of women. In order to help accomplish this, the program strives to incorporate the principles of:
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Abundance rather than Scarcity (the recognition that there is enough for all when we function as a community)
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Cooperation rather than Competition
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Right motivation rather than Personal Incentives
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Economic exchange based on harmony and peace
* The Grameen Micro-enterprise Model
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A woman with a dream finds four people she trusts to form a group. The group learns about loans, savings and building a business. A member receives a microloan to start or build her business, allowing her to increase her income. Groups meet weekly to make repayments, continue their education and build support networks. With these tools in hand, women increase their income, build their credit scores and create jobs in their communities. As women continue in the program their businesses grow and other financing opportunities become available to them.
Most of this work has been done in El Remate, a village in the northern region of Guatemala. We have also introduced the gardening program in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic, and are working in Lebrun, Haiti in conjunction with the non-profit, HavServe.