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What women want

In Nicaragua, as in many Latin American countries, it can be difficult to find out what women really think about the situation in which they live, and for a project to address the genuine needs of a community Nuevas Esperanzas first needs to discover the different problems faced by women and men alike.  This week the team has been spending every day in a different community high on the slopes of the volcanoes, in the range known as Los Maribios, to get to know the people and the challenges they face.

As few share Mel Gibson’s supernatural ability to read women’s minds, carefully designed participatory exercises which are sensitive to gender help to ensure that women’s views are heard.  Before setting out, the Nuevas Esperanzas team took part in a training course in participatory techniques which included dividing women and men into separate groups and asking them to create maps of their community (for the team this was a map of the office!).  These maps were then used to identify problems they face.  It was a fascinating exercise for the team as they saw just how differently men and women approached the task and the different ways they prioritise needs.  So often in Latin culture it is only the men whose views are heard.

Just a few days later the team set off up into the mountains, armed with the essential materials for creating a map – drinking straws, nails, matchboxes and even beans to represent money!  In each of the four communities visited, the team has ensured that women and men contribute equally in this participatory learning exercise and that they all have the chance to express their views.  In Agua Fría, in the shadow of the smouldering crater of Volcán Telica, a group of thirty villagers had already gathered to await the arrival of the Nuevas Esperanzas team.  All were keen to participate, but there was one big problem – they were all men!  After listening to their opinions as they made their maps, the women from the Nuevas Esperanzas team went from house to house to find the women of the community so that their voices could also be heard.

It is not easy to predict the responses that community members will give, and the fact that the women prioritise issues which the men did not even include on their list is an important reminder that we must always provide an opportunity for everyone’s voice to be heard.  Very few houses have latrines which was of no concern to most of the men, but a major complaint from the women!  Sometimes, though, everyone does agree.  Women and men alike identified improved access to water and better footpaths as the top priorities for almost all of these communities.  Nuevas Esperanzas is now preparing an integrated project which will address these and other needs identified.  Participation will be the key to success throughout the life cycle of the project and Nuevas Esperanzas will continue to ensure that women are always represented and involved.

16/02/08