Women for Democracy and Development (WODD)
Women for Democracy and Development is a civil society, activist and women’s rights organisation whose aim is to empower women economically, educationally and politically. We engage in advocacy, lobbying and trainings to encourage women to improve their social, economic and political position in The Gambia. To work with the voiceless and invisible women to eradicate gender injustice and poverty. |
Women for Democracy and Development (WODD) was formed in 2005 and is rooted in the realisation that The Gambia cannot be genuinely democratic and progressive when half of its population are excluded from national development. We recognise that education is the key to empowerment and therefore focus on educating and training women to recognise their rights and advocate for them. A world without discrimination and social exclusion where every person enjoys their life in liberty, dignity and pride. |
WODD recognises that the economic and political development of women goes hand in hand. Our projects encompass both a skills development training component to improve the economic condition of women as well as sensitisations on issues of political importance to educate and encourage women to assert their rights. These are some of our top achievements since our inception in 2005: • A five year education project funded by ABFZ, a Swedish organisation to provide literary classes for women to teach them how to read and write in Mandinka and Wolof. Some of the women have gone on to enter and win local language competitions sponsored by WEC. • The Socialist Women’s Organisation of Jamtland funded our five year project promoting democracy and economic empowerment. Since 2005 WODD has facilitated democracy workshops with 54 study circles nationwide. The project also sought to address the women’s economic needs by conducting community based discussions to ascertain which livelihood skills the women would like to be taught. The study groups trained in practical skills such as beekeeping, tie die, business management and bookkeeping. These trainings were supplemented with grants so that the women could start their own businesses and fully utilise their newly found skills. • We have helped women to set up Oususu’s; informal savings groups which encourage women to economically empower themselves within their communities. A group consists of 10 women who each give 100 dalasis a month; the 1000 dalasis collected is given to one woman following a raffle in which a child from the village chooses a name out of a hat. The collected fund is used to help the woman start or continue their own business. WODD monitors the activities of these Oususu’s every month to ensure the money is being spent on income generating activities. The savings groups are not only economically beneficial, they also encourage women to take responsibility for their own livelihoods and support each other in a common goal. |
Women for Democracy and Development are the winners of the 2011 Gender Award in Dakar which is sponsored by FAMEDEV (The Inter Africa Network for Women, Media, Gender Equity and Development). We Look After Our Funds: by producing monthly financial reports for projects and practicing yearly external auditing. We Are Organised: by producing monthly narrative reports, conducting monthly field visits and compiling an annual report. WODD has female focused board consisting of 11 women and 2 men who are elected at our Annual General Meeting to serve a three year term. Our congress is composed of representatives from the 54 study circles to encourage a bottom up approach to women’s development. We communicate internally through monthly meetings and hold an Annual General Meeting. We Build Capacity: within our team by attending trainings in proposal writing, financial management and election observation. We Engage With Government Through: • Advocating for the Women’s Act 2010 to be implemented in the Gambian courts • Lobbying government and advocates for the Gambian legislature to enact a Violence Against Women Act and a specific Anti FGM legislation • Lobbying for proportional representation through newspapers and workshops to get women into elected government positions • Inviting governors, magistrates and National Assembly Members to attend our trainings Women For Democracy and Development No. 1 Sambou’s Street Churchill’s Town Kanifing Municipality Tel: (220) 998 1828; 638 0345 Email: [email protected], [email protected] |