Ghana Blog Three: Gender Empowerment

I'm excited to announce that I will be partaking in the Gender Empowerment Service Learning Project in Ghana this summer. I'm fully aware that this is an opportunity of a lifetime and I'm thrilled to bits that I will have a chance to experience Ghanian culture and interact with the Ghanian community in Accra. I'm trying to read as much as I can about the country before I leave in May. Here's a little bit about what I've learned so far about the status of women.

I recently came across an article discussing the Law and Women's Programme (LWP), founded by Ms Mary Ohenewaa Afful in Ghana http://www.modernghana.com/news/334884/1/law-women-programme-promotes-womens-rights.html. Afful initially worked with the Federation of International Women Lawyers where she supported grass roots causes. Her experiences working with underprivileged women inspired her efforts to end discrimination. LWP serves to give a voice to women who have been marginalized in addition to informing them of resources within and outside the government that can help them further their cause. Although there are multiple provisions within the nation's constitution that protect women and children, these laws are often overlooked due to economic barriers, illiteracy, and societal norms. LWP works to bring women together in order to share their struggles and find solutions to their oppression.

Nonetheless, Ghana isn't a society where women don't have any opportunities. As mentioned in the article, the constitution has provisions protecting women and there are women who hold respectable offices and positions. However, there are still many women who don't have access to adequate resources nor an education. I think it is very noble of Afful to recognize the disparity between men and women. Her organization has the potential to change the attitude of Ghanian society while helping women discover their personal worth. By addressing illiteracy as well as percieved gender roles, LWP can help women realize what they can make of themselves. I look to Afful as a role model and hope to emphasize the importance of self-sufficiency and education in the service learning project.

I also read an article about Global Mamas, a non-profit organization encouraging women entrepreneurs in Ghana http://www.modernghana.com/news/247417/1/empowering-women-entrepreneurs-in-ghana.html. This group was founded by two peace corps volunteers in 2003 aiming to help women achieve economic indepence at a grass roots level. Women working for Global Mamas gain an income by selling handicrafted goods, and by doing so, gain respect within their community. This organization encourages fair trade, where the artisans recieve full profit for their work. It also emphasizes sustainability, which benefits the women already working as well as women interested in working. All in all, Global Mamas does a thorough job of harnessing the skills and talents of multiple women while providing them with a sense of empowerment.

As I read about Global Mamas, it hit me that organization that I used to volunteer with actually had a connection with them. I used to be a marketing assistant at the fair trade non-profit Ten Thousand Villages of Austin, and I remember seeing products made by Global Mamas at the store. In fact, I think I actually bought my mom a skirt made by them for her birthday :). It was really interesting to read about the roots of this organization and the success it has achieved over time. The article notes that the Global Mamas network has made $500,000 in global sales throughout North America, Ghana, Europe, and Australia. This is highly beneficial for the women themselves as well as for their family members. By overcoming economic hardship, the women will quite likely attain sufficient funds to send their children to school. It is amazing the role that sustainable development efforts can have a domino effect on the lives of many people.

As I embark upon the Gender Empowerment Project, I hope to help the women learn valuable skills that can make them empowered and self-reliant. After reading about the likes of LWP and Global Mamas, I realize that it is important to emphasize the need for community as I work with the Ghanian women. It seems that by working together toward a cause, the women are able to commiserate as well as motivate one another. I'm looking forward to offering whatever skills I have in the project while learning from the women and seeing what they have to offer.