How we work

Nepalese widows discussing issues affecting them

Change comes in small, brave steps, one person at a time

Womankind enables women in developing countries to join together as they try to change things in their own lives. They, in turn, educate and support others to do the same; from a few actions come many more. And as momentum grows, women’s voices get heard more widely and even bigger changes can result – within communities and throughout society.

Which changes women want to take are decided by the women themselves.

Womankind does not impose priorities invented in the UK. We are always guided by ordinary women in a specific context and what they want to change.

The benefits of working through local groups

We don’t fly in ready-made solutions, instead, we work with local community groups to develop a range of practical solutions around local conditions, providing funding and support, and regularly visiting to monitor and evaluate the differences being made in women’s lives.

Sharing what works and what doesn’t

Many problems facing women living in poverty are similar, though culture, religion, geography and history can shape those problems in different ways. A success in Peru, therefore, should be shared so that other women in, say, Nepal, can learn from it, adapt it, and use it to transform their own lives if possible. Womankind makes these learning exchanges between partners possible.

As well as working on the ground, we push for change at national and international level by joining with other groups who also have influence. In this way, we help change the big picture for women as well as improve their daily lives.

Womankind believes it is important to exchange knowledge and experience, with our partners and with other organisations, to strengthen the impact of our work.

Emilia Muchawa – Zimbabwe Women Lawyer’s Association at the CSW CEDAW event

In March 2010 Womankind hosted an event at the annual review of the Commission on the Status of Women.  It celebrated the achievements of our partners during the 30 years, since the passing of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Four of our partners spoke: Dorcas Coker-Appiah from the Gender Centre in Ghana, Emilia Muchawa from the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers’ Association, Jeanette Llaya from DEMUS in Peru and Durga Sob from FEDO in Nepal.