Group 3_Kaira Looro Women's House Report

15. Fundamental Considerations Gender Equality Women's equality rate in Senegal is relatively high compared to other African countries. Legal advances have been made in the Parity Law, highlighting that women share equal rights with men in the elections (Equal Measures, 2019). The Senegal government has recently adopted a national strategy for equity and gender to ensure that women, girls, men, and boys benefit equally from development projects (Equal Measures, 2019). However, realities have shown that traditional culture still prevents gender equality in practice (Equal Measures, 2019). Females in Senegal still suffer from gender-based violence and early and forced marriages (Equal Measures, 2019). The aim of proposing gender equal strategies is not arbitrarily enforcing the idea of feminism in to the local community of Baghere. But to provide strategies that help women in Baghere to live in a place without the breathless restrains from the patriarchal traditions.

Using Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, the primary objectives of the project are: to design a space that satisfies local women and their basic need, to build a safe and secure place for local women to meet and take shelter, to provide access to safe sources of food and water (Huitt, 2007). The project will create a sense of belongingness for local women. According to Abraham Maslow, the sense of belongingness is to help people during times of dilemma (Fountain House, 2012).

The sense of belongingness will create a space for individuals to share information and perspectives, whether positive or negative (Fountain House, 2012). The sense of belongingness could become a source of inner strength to help people avoid a sense of loneliness (Fountain House, 2012). Similarly, building the women’s centre aims to create local women a space to communicate and share their feelings.

Furthermore, it will equip women with the necessary tools, through workshops and education, to determine and respond to their own needs on their own terms.

Figure 5. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Framework for Needs Assessment (Huitt, 2007)