Increasing Participation

In Afghanistan, WOMANKIND helped to organise 24 workshops in Afghanistan which allowed women to shape the country’s draft Constitution.

Women’s suggestions were pushed through official channels by lawyers, resulting in women gaining equal rights with men. WOMANKIND also helped to organise separate polling stations for women to reduce the danger and increase the chances of women being ‘allowed’ to vote.
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Polling station in Afghanistan
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empty It was amazing to hear that the Constitution for Afghanistan is in draft form, and we the women can make changes by our comments and suggestions. We were thinking the Constitution only regards men. WOMANKIND explained the difficult words the Constitution has, so we can understand it. empty
Suhaila, Afghanistan

WOMANKIND Worldwide helps women to have a say not only in family life, but also on the priorities of their community, their region and their country – from helping women come together to push for electricity to be extended to their village, to letting women know they have a legal right to vote or leave a violent marriage.

Getting involved at the local level

The step in women coming together may be informally, around a particular issue affecting or threatening their daily life, or the wellbeing of their children – just as women in the UK might get together in someone’s home to talk about how to stop a phone mast being erected close to their children’s school. WOMANKIND Worldwide supports women to come together and achieve this change.

In Ethiopia, for example, we are helping women come together to discuss ways to end female genital mutilation.

empty Find out more about what's happening in Ethiopia >>

Making a bigger impact

WOMANKIND Worldwide links small groups of women on the ground together, so that they share ideas and skills, develop confidence and form networks. In India, for example, we fund community organisations which support these small groups, known as sanghams. They provide help in learning to read and write so women can connect to the world around them. They help women set up group savings projects from which they can take loans for setting up small businesses, and to access help from the government that, in India, is available but which many women are unaware of.

empty More information about the sanghams in India >>

Taking part in elections

Once women are stirred into action and realise they can influence public life, many of them feel motivated to get involved in politics. WOMANKIND Worldwide is involved in many countries in helping women to stand for election, and in providing other women with the practical advice and support they need to vote, often for the first time.

empty How we helped women take part in elections in Afghanistan >>

empty Our approach to women’s participation >>