RESUMO
PIP: Founded in 1992, is an independent grassroots organization whose goal is to assist community development, health, education, clean water and income generation. The Q'eqchi' Maya Indians constitute the fourth largest indigenous group located on the banks of Rio Dulce, in the eastern rainforest of Guatemala. Project Ak'Tenamit helped the Q'eqchi' people revive their ancient art of paper making as a viable and self-sustainable source of income. As the material used by the ancient Maya--cork husk and banana stalks--are still abundant, it was decided that this art could be successfully re-introduced. With papermaking, the Q'eqchi women were able to earn money from their own production without even compromising their respective households. Ak'Tenamit was responsible for the distribution of paper making products in stores throughout Guatemala. Although there are still many obstacles confronting these women, the paper making cooperative provides employment opportunities and is indeed a great help to them. They produce a total of 15 different products including bowls, cards, and bookmarks.^ieng
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Emprego , Etnicidade , Renda , Mudança Social , Mulheres , América , América Central , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Economia , Guatemala , América Latina , América do Norte , População , Características da PopulaçãoRESUMO
PIP: This article discusses USAID's lessons learned about integrating gender into natural resource management (NRM) projects in Peru, the Philippines, and Kenya. In Peru, USAID integrated women into a solid waste management project by lending money to invest in trash collection supplies. The loans allowed women to collect household waste, transfer it to a landfill, and provide additional sanitary disposal. The women were paid through direct fees from households and through service contracts with municipalities. In Mindanao, the Philippines, women were taught about the health impact of clean water and how to monitor water quality, including the monitoring of E. coli bacteria. Both men and women were taught soil conservation techniques for reducing the amount of silt running into the lake, which interferes with the generation of electricity and affects the health of everyone. The education helped women realize the importance of reducing silt and capitalized on their interest in protecting the health of their families. The women were thus willing to monitor the lake's water quality to determine if the conservation efforts were effective. In Kenya, USAID evaluated its Ecology, Community Organization, and Gender project in the Rift Valley, which helped resettle a landless community and helped with sustainable NRM. The evaluation revealed that women's relative bargaining power was less than men's. Organized capacity building that strengthened women's networks and improved their capacity to push issues onto the community agenda assured women a voice in setting the local NRM agenda.^ieng
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Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Órgãos Governamentais , Renda , Relações Interpessoais , Pesquisa , Abastecimento de Água , África , África Subsaariana , África Oriental , América , Ásia , Sudeste Asiático , Comportamento , Países em Desenvolvimento , Economia , Meio Ambiente , Quênia , América Latina , Organizações , Peru , Filipinas , Comportamento Social , América do SulRESUMO
PIP: This article discusses a community's solution to improving women's health in Guatemala. Indigenous women from the highland community of Cajola formed the Asociacion Pro-Bienestar de la Mujer Mam (APBMM). The APBMM identified a need for women health promoters and good, low-cost medicines. The Instituto de Educacion Integral para la Salud y el Desarrollo (IDEI) helped train 16 women as health communicators or promoters in 1996. The health communicators learned about setting up community medicine distribution. The mayor bypassed APBMM's efforts to set up medicine distribution and set up a community pharmacy himself. Someone else opened a private pharmacy. The 200-member group was frustrated and redirected their energies to making natural herbal medicines, such as eucalyptus rub. The group set up a community medicine chest in the IDEI medical clinic and sold modern medicine, homemade vapor rubs, and syrups. The group was joined by midwives and other volunteers and began educating mothers about treatment of diarrhea and respiratory diseases. The Drogueria Estatal, which distributes medicines nationally to nongovernmental groups, agreed to sell high quality, low cost medicine to the medicine chest, which was renamed Venta Social de Medicamentos (VSM). The health communicators are working on three potential income generation projects: VSM, the production and sale of traditional medicines and educational materials, and an experimental greenhouse to grow medicinal plants and research other crops that can be grown in the highlands.^ieng
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Agentes Comunitários de Saúde , Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Atenção à Saúde , Etnicidade , Serviços de Saúde , Renda , Farmácias , Pesquisa , Mulheres , América , América Central , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Economia , Guatemala , Saúde , Pessoal de Saúde , Planejamento em Saúde , América Latina , América do Norte , Organização e Administração , Política , População , Características da População , Opinião PúblicaRESUMO
PIP: The Calakmul Model Forest, which is situated in the Calakmul area of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, is one of 18 model forests in five countries worldwide that are coordinated by the secretariat at IDRC headquarters in Ottawa. The program promotes the management of natural resources in a sustained manner by a partnership of environmentalists, industry, and local communities. The goals of the program include: 1) ensuring ongoing harvests of food, wood, and other products; 2) enhancing the standard of living of local inhabitants; 3) raising awareness of conservation; and 4) promoting ecotourism. Based upon her initial surveys, Gloria Tavera, environmental educator for the program, found that: 1) more than 50% of the local population was under 15 years of age; 2) ethnic diversity was high; 3) literacy rates were low; and 4) women and children should be targeted. Since written material would be ineffective, other avenues would have to be used, such as the film "The Lion King," which brought people together to discuss environmental issues. Other program achievements include a wildlife station, the Calakmul Botanical Gardens, and a food, arts, and crafts fair and fashion show (1995) that focused on local forest products. The wildlife station houses puma, jaguar, and wild pigs. The Botanical Gardens, which covers six hectares of land, features nature trails and a showcase of local flora (including edible plants and 56 species of native orchids). It is a base for workshops, information sessions, and educational tours to the local Mayan ruins. As a result of the fair, clothes embroidered with traditional designs are being sold to tourists at the ruins, and a cookbook has been published. Tavera is now targeting 2500 primary school children in the area via environmental workshops for their teachers.^ieng
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Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Educação , Planejamento em Saúde , Renda , Serviços de Informação , Árvores , América , Países em Desenvolvimento , Economia , Meio Ambiente , América Latina , México , América do Norte , Organização e AdministraçãoRESUMO
PIP: This news article describes Latin American programs integrating women into family planning and reproductive health programs. Regional efforts are successful in provision of IEC materials, including the Japanese-Mexican joint project, which produced an adolescent health video series. Collaboration among countries is encouraged. The approach involves sensitivity to community needs. In Brazil, JOICFP initiated programs in hard-to-reach areas of the urban slums of Sao Paulo. The program includes an adolescent component on sex education and family planning. In 1994 a gathering place was established where youth could obtain information on health, sex education, and family planning. The Adolescent Space is manned by volunteers and peer counselors who give information on sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and other adolescent issues. In Guatemala, program effort has been directed since 1988 on the indigenous populations living in poor rural areas. Outsiders are challenged by the close-knit indigenous communities. In order to obtain credibility and to reach those women in need, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are recruited by the Family Planning Association of Guatemala and trained by APROFAM in safe motherhood practices and health care. Training is directed to helping TBAs mobilize women to accept health messages and join program activities. TBAs use specially produced handbooks for non-literate users. Bicycles are given to TBAs as a means of transportation. Treadle sewing machines were donated from Japan for training women in a vocation such as dressmaking. The training academies are effective in providing skills, facilitating small group interaction, and mobilizing women to seek a better quality of life. Mexico's Foundation for Family Planning (MEXFAM) encourages the active involvement of men in family planning, emphasizes education, and uses fees as a means of achieving sustainability. The Gente Joven program strives to involve adolescents, teachers, and parents in information sharing and dialogue.^ieng
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Adolescente , Participação da Comunidade , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Planejamento em Saúde , Serviços de Saúde , Renda , Mudança Social , Direitos da Mulher , Mulheres , Fatores Etários , América , Brasil , América Central , Atenção à Saúde , Demografia , Países em Desenvolvimento , Economia , Serviços de Planejamento Familiar , Guatemala , Saúde , América Latina , México , América do Norte , Organização e Administração , População , Características da População , Fatores Socioeconômicos , América do SulRESUMO
PIP: Ana Irsa (Nisoris) Aquina, 39, a mother of seven, grandmother, wife, and voluntary community health facilitator, lives in the Dominican Republic. Nisoris counsels women and their partners about reproductive health, provides child survival information to new mothers, and dispenses common remedies for diarrhea and respiratory infections as well as contraceptives (mainly oral contraceptives and condoms). These supplies are financed by Fundacion para el Desarrollo Communitario (FUDECO), a nongovernmental agency which is a member of the Save the Children alliance. FUDECO's work includes the development of water systems, health services, schools, and soil conservation training. Widespread deforestation in the San Juan area has led to a reduction in self-sufficient farming and a lack of nutrition evidenced by an increase in infant blindness caused by Vitamin A deficiency. To combat this situation, FUDECO has taught the women's group led by Nisoris how to use solar power to dry fruits and vegetables to preserve them for consumption beyond their season. The pilot group has in turn taught six other women's groups and conducted informal product sampling and Vitamin A information sessions in the local market. FUDECO provides supplies and technical expertise. The program has been so successful that the women are exploring packaging options so that they can sell the dried produce.^ieng
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Serviços de Saúde Comunitária , Abastecimento de Alimentos , Planejamento em Saúde , Renda , Distúrbios Nutricionais , Organizações , Vitamina A , Mulheres , América , Biologia , Região do Caribe , Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Atenção à Saúde , Países em Desenvolvimento , Doença , República Dominicana , Economia , Meio Ambiente , Saúde , Serviços de Saúde , América Latina , América do Norte , Fisiologia , Política , Atenção Primária à Saúde , Opinião Pública , VitaminasRESUMO
PIP: This article briefly describes an INSTRAW study of an income generation program in the Dominican Republic. The women in development program is operated by the Association for the Development of Micro-Enterprises in the Dominican Republic. The evaluation aims to quantify the results for men and women borrowers in terms of income, family health and nutrition, business reinvestment, job creation, and other measures. The aim is to compare findings between female household heads and non-heads. Findings support other empirical results showing increased sales and income after development. Women invested some of their additional income in their families' health, nutrition, and education. Women also hired other women and tended to employ more unpaid family members. 12% of employees were aged 7-14 years. The use of local community members, who were recent college graduates, as field officers was found to be an effective management tool. The young loan officers were successful in identifying potential clients and in creating accessible opportunities for advice and service. Loan officers increased the number of borrowers, and the program had low rates of nonpayment of loans. Comparisons between female heads and non-heads indicated different reasons for involvement in the program. Non-heads with other income providers reported personal reasons such as self realization and more money. Heads desired financial stability for the family and sometimes satisfaction of survival needs. Female heads tended to reinvest and expand their income-generating capacities. Women tended to increase their working space. This usually meant home space, since many women conducted their business at home. One obstacle was identified which limited income enhancement. For 30% of interviewed women a limit was set on available credit. Credit could only yield income equal to the minimum wage. This pilot study was limited to 400 persons from Santo Domingo. A further impact study is planned which would identify program strengths and weaknesses. Future plans for financial institutions and lending practices would be based on research findings.^ieng
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Renda , Projetos Piloto , Pobreza , Avaliação de Programas e Projetos de Saúde , Mudança Social , Mulheres , América , Região do Caribe , Países em Desenvolvimento , República Dominicana , Economia , América Latina , América do Norte , Organização e Administração , Pesquisa , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
PIP: Rapid population growth can only be stopped by lowering the fertility rate. The UNFPA recommends improving the employment opportunities for women as the single best way of achieving this reduction. An example of this phenomenon is the grape cultivation in the Nordeste (Northeastern) region of Brazil. This area is the poorest part of Brazil and has the highest proportion of indigent people. These people have been deforesting the Amazon in search of a better life. What they have done is sterilize the land and turned a tropical rain forest into a desert. In an effort to reverse this trend, grape cultivation has been introduced in an area called Petrolina. The area is very dry with less than 500 mm of precipitation annually. They do have access to a 5000 square kilometer artificial lake (the largest in the world) and the 3rd largest river in Brazil (the Sao Francisco). In an effort to avoid using agricultural medicines, the vines are fertilized with organic matter created on the farm and little or no pesticides are used since pests do not live in such an arid region. It has taken 20 years of trial and error, but the quality of the grapes is now very high and is competitive on the world market. Because of climate and location, harvesting is done year round which increases the productivity of the land. The farm managers have found that married women make the best workers and have the highest level of productivity. Age at 1st marriage averages 24-25, compared with 15-16 for unemployed women in the same area. The fertility rate averages 50% of that for unemployed women in the same area. Agricultural development offers the best opportunity for the women of developing countries. It can pay a high wage, reduce fertility, and replant desert areas.^ieng