Being the two poorest coastal communes in estuary area of Tinh Gia district, Thanh Hoa province, there are 576 single women-headed households and 1.035 cases of poverty in Hai Ninh and Ninh Hai communes. Local people here earn their living mainly from growing wet rice and subsidy crops, husbandry, natural fishing and aquaculture. The gender analysis in the PRA survey of 6 villages in Hai Ninh and Ninh Hai communes has shown that rural women, especially the target group, have quite a limit time. Mainly, they spend time on agricultural production and doing housework which are time-consuming, yet generate no income in cash. Due to their limited time, women have less opportunities to participate into social activities or training for capacity building, their voice and position are thus not fully considered in the community.
Sharing of the trainers
In September 2015, the Center for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) cooperated with the Women's Union (WU) of Ninh Hai and Hai Ninh communes' to conduct five training courses on gender and gender equality with 156 participants who are WU members, male and female residents, and members of the target group. This is an activity within the framework of the project "Towards the sustainable livelihoods of the poor single women-headed households by applying Climate Smart Agriculture approach in Tinh Gia district, Thanh Hoa province" (coded VM052) funded by Manos Unidas through SRD.
An activity in the training course at Ninh Hai commune
Thanks to the training courses, participants could learn and shares issues including the difference between gender and sex, gender roles, gender equality and inequality, and gender prejudices. Additionally, participants were encouraged to discuss through group work ongoing issues such as women's influence and position in their communities, decision-making capacity in their families, male child preference, and domestic violence. Finally, they shared stories of common occurrences in local places and together built a plan to address them.
Most of participants found the knowledge and information in the training helpful. Also the case stories truly helped them to have sound understanding of gender and gender equality which would result appropriate sharing of housework between husbands and wives in a family and also between men and women in community. With appropriate support and attention and participatory involvement of both men and women into the project implementation, the target group would be enabled to improve their understanding as well as decision-making capacity.
Group discussion activity
The trainees presenting their discussion results
-SRD-
Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD)
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