Director,
T.E.(Terry)
Manning,
Schoener 50,
1771 ED
Wieringerwerf,
The Netherlands.
Tel:
0031-227-604128
Homepage:
http://www.flowman.nl
E-mail:
(nameatendofline)@xs4all.nl : bakensverzet
and
"Money is not
the key that opens the gates of the market but the bolt that bars them"
Gesell, Silvio The
Natural Economic Order
Revised English edition,
Peter Owen,
“Poverty is created scarcity”
Wahu Kaara, point 8 of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, 58th
annual NGO Conference, United Nations,
08.00 Files of some specific aspects of the project.
08.20 Respect for women’s rights
The project text does not boast the numerous
advantages it brings to women in the project area.
Populist gender-based and feminist slogans are
not used.
This project recognises the terms of both the Draft
charter for the rights of african women, Addis Abeba 28th March 2003 and of
the African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, 1990.
08.20.01 Majority
participation of women in the project structures.
The 297 health clubs formed provide organisational
platforms form women. These are the very first structures created. As a result
of this local group organisation women are put in a position to be able to
participate en masse at the meetings where the tank commissions are chosen. All
adults from the 20-25 extended families served by each (future) water tank
installation participate in these meetings. The tank commissions will usually
be formed of from 3 to 7 members. Most, if not all, of the tank commission
members are expected to be women.
Each tank commission nominates a member to the
well commission to which the tank commission refers. The tank commission
nominee can be either a tank commission member or another person from the tank
commission area. Since most of the tank commission members will usually be
women, they can be expected to nominate a female representative to the well
commission. A majority of the 5-9 members of the well commission can therefore
also be expected to be women.
Each well commission nominates a member to the
central committee of the project. The well commission nominee can be either a
well commission member or another person from the well commission area. Since
most of the well commission members will usually be women, they can be expected
to nominate a female representative to the central project committee. A
majority of the 66 members of the project-level central committee (the project
“parliament”) can therefore also be expected to be women.
The project central committee chooses the
members of the project management ( the project “government”). Since a majority
of the members of the central committee should be women, women are expected to
be well represented at project management level.
Obviously men are never excluded from
participation in the management of the project structures. However the system
described should guarantee a majority participation of women in management at
all project levels. This is important, as women are in general the most
directly interested in and affected by most of the project structures. They
stand to profit most from the success of the project.
Management jobs at all levels are paid for
within the framework of the local money system. This may make participation by men
less attractive to them as use they make of their local money income is subject
to more stringent social control than might be the case with formal money
payments.
08.20.02 Reduction of the
work load on women.
The service at the disposal of women under the
project contribute to a substantial reduction of the work load on them. They no
longer need to fetch water. They no longer need to collect wood for cooking
purposes. Washing can be done at well-commission level as is foreseen in the case of the Vivons
Makalondi project at a distance not usually exceeding 0,75km. Should they so
prefer, women can also choose to have a washing place installed next to their
own local water tank installations.
Improvement in the living conditions of women will
go together with an increase in the health of their children. Children will be
able to go to school . Their general health should improve. Women are expected
to have more time available to dedicate to paid productive activities.
08.20.03 Increase in women’s
income.
Women, including the poorest, will benefit from the
local money system installed and from the interest-free micro-credit system set
up. They should have a majority participation in decision making as described
in section 08.20.01 above.
The local money system is based on the perceived
value of an hour’s work. Activities take place in a local and competitive
environment. The harder, the more difficult or the less pleasant the work, the
higher its value on the local market. Women who under the traditional economic
environment are less paid to do the heavier work should be better paid under
the local money systems.
The interest-free
micro-credit structure should enable women to make formal money
investments for the purchase of capital
goods to increase their productivity.
The management of the Cooperative Local Development Fund should be
controlled by women. Women should therefore be able to e ensure that their
priorities are respected in the management of the available funds.
Cooperative buying groups are also expected to be
set up at tank commission, well commission and project level.
08.20.04 Women’s health.
Women will benefit from improved conditions of
health :
First, through the supply of clean drinking
water, drainage of stagnant surface waters especially in village centres and
around water tanks and wells.
Secondly, through the supply of complete
domestic sanitation systems,
Thirdly, through hygiene education courses
part of the activities of the Health Clubs of which they will be members.
Fourthly, through the elimination of smoke in
and around their homes.
Fifthly as a result of a more varied diet.
Sixthly, (with the passage of some time)
through the availability of a complete range of medical services, including the
services of a nurse at tank commission level, of a doctor and bicycle ambulance
at well-commission level, and of a hospital at project level. Medical
dispensaries will be available at well-commission level.
08.20.05 Women’s education.
Women will benefit from improved education
facilities as follows:
First, through hygiene education courses part
of the activities of the Health Clubs they are members of.
Secondly, through the study rooms put at their
disposal at tank commission level.
Thirdly, through evening classes held in the
currently available school facilities.
Fourthly, and subject always to the
availability of teachers, through the construction of primary schools at tank
commission level, and intermediate schools at well commission level.
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A list of files for hygiene education, drinking water and sanitation.
Complete
index of the project.