Generating income – fighting poverty
Once wars or conflicts are overcome, it is often women who bear the main responsibility for reconstruction. They not only have to live with the traumatic experiences of sexualised violence in war, but also have to cope with other burdensome consequences of the war: deaths of family members, loss of property and work, often also loss of a place called home.
Women who have lost their husbands in the war are suddenly faced with having sole responsibility for themselves and their children. Very few of them had learned a profession before. Their financial basis of life had previously been secured by their husband or the extended family. Without a male head of the family, they are often condemned to a life in isolation and poverty. Unmarried women, widows or single mothers are often faced with discrimination and hostility in many patriarchal societies even today. Many are denied a self-determined life.
In addition, there is the stigma of war rape, which makes it even more difficult for women to return to a life without violence and oppression. Raped women are often considered a “disgrace” for their families and are cast out. As a result, many women fight against poverty after the war, some find themselves compelled to work as prostitutes or fall victim to trafficking in human beings or forced prostitution as their existence is in jeopardy – a destiny that means for these women the shocking continuation of the sexualised violence they experienced in war.
Standing on one’s own two feet
An important pillar of medica mondiale’s project work consists in creating ways for women to earn money. medica mondiale offers further training and involves women in measures promoting gainful employment. In some cases, we also find women places in state-run training courses. Women should be in a position to secure their own livelihood and shape their own future in a self-determined manner. Learning a profession and standing on their own two feet helps to escape poverty and at the same time contributes to giving the women emotional and mental strength. Furthermore, by becoming economically active and independent these women can help to gradually break with traditionally handed-down roles – also for their daughters’ sake. Involving women in work activities and trainings has also an important preventive effect. Employment prospects help avoid prostitution and sexualised exploitation.
Initial aid for an independent life
The first step is often the hardest – without equity capital, women are mostly unable to take up commercial activity. Therefore, medica mondiale offers initial aid: in rural areas, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, women receive seed or goats with medica mondiale’s support, so that they can take care of themselves and their children. In Kosova, medica Kosova helps widows to build their own livelihoods as farmers by providing them with cows, tractors and beehives. In addition, medica Kosova trains these women in assuring the quality of and marketing their own products. Meanwhile, the farmers make most of their living selling home-made products, such as honey and cheese. In many countries, it is a small revolution if women take their lives into their own hands, thus ignoring traditional roles. Particularly men often disapprove of and oppose the new independence of women. They often accept it only if and when they discover an advantage for themselves, for example because the family income has risen.
Education and training
In the centre of medica Zenica in Bosnia, more than 600 women have so far participated in educational training courses to be hairdressers, tailors or upholsterers and learned additional skills in English and computer courses. In Albania in 2007, about 95 women were trained in sewing or cooking. Almost each of these women has meanwhile found a job with the help of medica Tirana. Women without any education are offered literacy courses in Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Afghanistan. Education and training courses not only increase the women’s chances of finding work – they also enable and promote contact and exchange among women, thus counteracting their isolation and loneliness.
Building co-operatives as self-help initiatives
medica mondiale also supports self-help and solidarity among women, so that they help each other to secure their livelihoods. This has proven very successful in Kosova: in the villages around Gjakova, more than 200 women in agricultural support groups have formed a co-operative; they share tractors and machines, run a joint milk collection centre and help other villages to found further co-operatives in solidarity. The success of this concept is based on years of psychosocial counselling work with these women. Many years of support by medica Kosova have helped them to overcome their isolation and become mentally stable. The shared experiences have created trust among the women – an important prerequisite for them to join forces now and together develop prospects for the future.
