Director’s Desk Stepping into the third year of SPED II (Sustainability through participation empowerment and decentralization) Program the tasks ahead should accelerate in us the enthusiasm and zeal for successful implementation of the activities. Community development focuses on analyzing the problems and issues, generate possible solutions, mobilize the required resources, choose and implement the best solution and finally evaluate the effectiveness of the solution. It is a challenge to facilitate the people of the community to be active in realizing the issues, planning out solutions and applying them systematically and properly, with commitment and hard work. There is always room for improvement in all the activities that are being implemented. This will be inculcated as part of our work when there is constructive discontentment regarding the completed activities which will lead to creativity and modifications for betterment. In the current year this insight must be one of the guiding factors along with proper and positive attitudes towards responsibilities among those involved in the field level activities, which will enable to search for possible areas of improvements in each of the activity designed. No doubt it calls for confidence to discuss and frame out changes in a participatory manner. I wish success to all partner NGOs that the zeal and creativity in planning and implementation make SPED II program become a milestone embedded in the push towards reduction of poverty in India.
Fr. Augustine Bharanikulangara
CIDA Evaluation The mid-term evaluation of Save a Family Plan’s (SAFP) Sustainability through Participation, Empowerment and Decentralization II Program (SPED II) executed between 2006-2009, which is supported by the Capacity Development Division of the Voluntary Sector Programmes Directorate of the Partnership Branch of CIDA was carried out by Ms. Francoise Coupal from Mosaic.net International, Canada. The evaluation was done during the period from 24th March 2008 to 9th April 2008. She arrived at SAFP on 24th March morning. She had interaction and participatory exercises with SAFP team on the same day. She visited 5 partner NGOs of SAFP. The details are as follows: 25th MarchWIN Society at Cherthala, 27th March- Bathery DSSS, 29th March- Chicmmangalore, 31st March 2008 and 1st April 2008- Indore DSSS and 3rd April Chanda DSSS. In all these NGOs she had interaction with the staff, resource team members, village level committees, sangam members, and partner beneficiaries. From 5th April to 8th April the consolidation of reports and verification of documents at SAFP office was done. On 9th morning the debriefing session with SAFP team was held and she left for Canada on 9th April 2008, afternoon.
Gratitude SAFPI expresses profound gratitude to the 5 partnering NGOs of WIN Society, Bathery, Chicmangalore, Indore and Chanda for the sincere and smooth arrangements done with regard to the CIDA evaluation conducted in their Organizations. This enabled the successful completion of the evaluation. Monitoring Visit Mr. Jose Varekulam and Mr. Jacob visited the partnering NGO-Hyderabad DSSS on 4th and 5th April 2008. Mr. Jose did the internal audit of accounts and Mr. Jacob monitored the SPED II field activities. Visit from Canada Ms. Emily Trudel reached SAFP on 2nd May 2008. She spent 3 weeks in the SAFP office with the online computer program of SAFP. She made some house visits to the RB beneficiaries of Kottayam DSSS and Ernakulam DSSS. She also visited the SPED II activities of Kottappuram DSSS. Ms. Emily returned to Canada On 29th May 2008. Evaluation on CIDA Evaluation draft report A special staff meeting was held at SAFPI on 24th May 2008 and evaluated the draft report of the CIDA evaluation. His Excellency Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath and Director- Fr. Augustine Bharanikulangara guided the evaluation session.
Some of the completed SPED II activities 2008-2009 • • • •
The village baseline data of the SPED II villages were collected, analyzed and submitted by all the partner NGOs The village level annual planning workshop 2008-2009 was organized by all the 51 partnering NGOs of the SPED II program. The activity budget, activity calendar and cash flow were submitted by the partnering NGOs for verification and approval. The activity budgets and cash flow were verified and approved for implementation of the activities.
Submission of Annual Report to SAFPC/CIDA The required documents of the SPED II program for the year 2007-2008 as part of the annual report were submitted to SAFP Canada office for their verification and submission to CIDA. Blessing of the building and Bidding Farewell
The blessing of the second floor of the Aiswaryagram building was held on 7th June 2008. Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath celebrated the Holy Eucharist and followed by this the blessing ceremony of the building was held. All staff of Aiswaryagram and Save A Family Plan were present. In the get-together held after the Holy Mass, Bishop Sebastian and Fr. Augustine Bharanikulangara expressed their sincere thanks for the committed service of the members of Aiswaryagram who are either retired or opted for voluntary retirement. All were assured of prayerful wishes for a happy future. The gathering was followed by a sumptuous lunch for all.
TRAINING ON GENDER MAINSTREAMING TO THE CATHOLIC PRIESTS
INTRODUCTION Save A Family Plan has been a pioneer in promoting trainings on gender mainstreaming through the partner NGOs in India. Within the last 6 years 1) all the staff members of the partner NGOs 2) all the leaders of the partner NGOs 3) around 53000 sangam members were provided with training on gender mainstreaming. Every partner NGO has formulated a gender policy to promote gender mainstreaming. SAFP is concerned that in all the intervention sectors and activities gender equity be established from the planning to implementation. Hence the decision making power, leadership qualities and monitoring capacity of women have considerably increased. Each partner NGO has to make a Gender Impact Assessment before the implementation of any activity. Moreover in case of chances for gender inequality mitigation measures had to be planned and implemented. In the case of financially supporting a family in the construction of a new house the title deed had to be changed into the name of both husband and wife for the existence of co-ownership. A booklet was published and circulated to the partner beneficiaries so that people will learn about the need for gender mainstreaming. SAFP had conducted a research in 2 of the intervention areas within Ernakulam district of Kerala State. The findings are so encouraging with respect of increase in knowledge about women’s rights, sharing of responsibilities of household works, discussion and decision making at home women gaining leadership qualities and coming out in public life and social development activities. In many such ways SAFP has been strictly promoting gender mainstreaming within the Indian society. Realization by Catholic Church in India The CBCI and KCBC have realized the significance, relevance and need for gender mainstreaming and have set up Commissions respectively to study the issue, formulate policy and take essential steps to establish gender mainstreaming within the Church. In this dimension
when things are viewed it is vital and indispensable to provide training on gender mainstreaming to the priests in all the dioceses which will have great impact within the society in this aspect. Religion and Gender Due to wrong interpretation of religious laws there prevail a lot of gender inequalities in the society. All over the world echoes of the need for gender mainstreaming is heard in the present era. The religious leaders have a great role in establishing gender mainstreaming within the society. This explains the need and worth of taking initiatives in providing training on gender mainstreaming.
Concept Gender equity implies the respect to human dignity. Men get the upper hand in all the socioeconomic and political units like the family, nation, workplaces, social and political organizations. This denies women to handle resources, acquire women’s rights and take decisions. This imbalance among men and women is known as gender discrimination. The religions mould views on man and woman and compelled to abide by the same. Moreover the characteristics like submissiveness, sacrifice, suffering etc. are attributed to women. Through the years long considerations in this way such factors are embedded in the society and the women. This unknowingly leads male dominance and to gender discrimination in the society. A situation like this paves the way for many problems faced by the women and the girls. These problems may be at home, in the work places or in socio-political arena. The practical needs and the strategic needs of the women have to be met. Their role in decision making, resource management and acquiring women’s rights should be enhanced. This is a global issue. Gender equality means that women and men have equal conditions for realizing their full human rights and potential to contribute to national, political, economic, social, and cultural development, and to benefit from the results. Gender equality is therefore the equal valuing by society of both the similarities and differences between women and men, and the varying roles they play. Decisions made in planning development initiatives are not neutral with respect to gender equality, even where gender equality is not considered. Explicit considerations of gender equality issues in the planning and decision making process support progress toward gender equality. As such, gender equality contributes substantially to improving the well-being of women, men, girls and boys. The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are‌the only way to build a sustainable, just and developed society. Empowerment of women And gender equality are prerequisites for achieving political, cultural, social, economic and environment security among all peoples. The crime records reveal that crime against women has increased four fold in the last decade. A study on domestic violence in the capital city shows that 43% of women face physical violence when 62% of women face psychological violence. Kerala once known for communal harmony is now facing communal violence and the worst sufferers are the women and children. The 73rd constitutional amendment giving 33% reservation in representation for women in Panchayathiraj
has given space to women in local governance. But most of them have been absorbed into the mainstream men-centered political process and thereby not able to bring in women’s perspective in development or governance. Women in many parts of the world have made significant contributions in areas of development such as agriculture and water resource management. Neglecting women in areas of development lead to not reaching the maximum effects of developmental inputs and some time to negative effects. Gender mainstreaming can reveal a need for changes in goals, strategies and actions to ensure that both men and women can influence, participate in and benefit from development processes. This can require changes in organizations- structures, procedures and cultures- to create organizational environments which are conducive to the promotion of gender equality. While representation of women is an essential element in gender mainstreaming increasing the number of women is not enough. The mainstream agenda can only be transformed when the perspectives of both women and men inform the design, implementation and outcomes of policies and programmes. This requires analyzing gender perspectives in each and every area of development. Addressing inequality between women and men is fundamental to achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development. Gender equality and women's empowerment is the third Millennium Development Goal and is internationally recognized as fundamental to achieving all Millennium Development Goals. Even though the word ‘empowerment’ is used extensively it is not understood as a process from within by building one’s capacity and self esteem and having a critical understanding on the role of institutions in perpetuating inequalities and finally coming together and working for a an equitable social order. A large number of women face a lot of opposition from family, community and male political leaders if they decide to enter politics or public life. The empowerment of the total society is essential to make this reality. Through out the last many years SAFP has been a pioneer in promoting gender equity, as a practical matter in implementing programs and projects in India especially in Kerala. As a part of this, SAFP is taking initiative to support the Dioceses to provide orientation training to the priests of various dioceses.
Objectives 1. To provide gender sensitization to the priests in the Catholic Church. 2. To explain the various dimensions of gender mainstreaming in the society 3. To discuss the scenario of gender status within the Catholic Church 4. To derive areas where gender mainstreaming has to be established. 5. To probe into the role of priests in establishing gender mainstreaming Themes & module The themes to be dealt with are: 1. Gender sensitization: concept of gender, difference between sex and gender, cultural and religious backgrounds which positively contributed to the gender inequality etc.
2. Gender mainstreaming: concept, the present status/ problems/ areas where changes have to take place 3. Gender in Catholic Church: in the various Institutions/ organizations, the need for enhanced roles, the gender mainstreaming in the families etc. 4. Group discussions and presentations can be done. Strategy 1. A one day training program will be availed to all the priests of the dioceses of the partner DSSSs in Kerala 2. Each batch will be having 70 to 80 participants. The number of trainings in each diocese will be proportionately decided. 3. 80 % financial support will be given by SAFP-CIDA 4. 20% will be mobilized by the Diocese/DSSS 5. The hall facility should be made avail free of cost by the Diocese/DSSS 6. SAFP-CIDA should be acknowledged at the end of the training. A banner should be exhibited on the stage acknowledging SAFP-CIDA-DSSS. Expected Results 1. The orientation will be received approximately by all the priests in the dioceses of Kerala from the three rites of the Catholic Church 2. The input and the learning will be instilled into the Catholics and others through the parishes and institutions 3. A gradual process of gender mainstreaming will begin within the church structure, Institutions/organizations run by the church and the basic units of families 4. Increased opportunities for both men and women in the formulation of programmes and policies of the Church.
Conclusion Gender mainstreaming should be promoted because it establishes equality and promotes human rights. This assures that development activities achieve the desired objectives and goals in effective, sustainable and participatory manner. Discarding half or more people in implementing anything does not assure a sustainable development. This exclusively implies the significance of promotion of gender mainstreaming in the society.
Printed & Published by: Director, Save A Family Plan India, Aiswaryagram, Parappuram P.O., Kanjoor Via, Ernakulam District, Kerala State, India – 683 593 Phone: 0484-2462130, 2462230, 2466324 & 3943325 E-mail: augustineb@safp.org safpi@safp.org Editorial Team: Fr. Augustine Bharanikulangara and Mr. Jacob. P.O
Issue Number 1
April- June 2008
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Govt. of Canada, to this Newsletter. www.acdi-cida.gc.ca