FEBRUARY 2001
First All-Woman Animator Training Led by Women
This report was written by Elisabeth
Roelvink, a Hunger Project activist
from the Netherlands and a professional trainer who
contributes her time and expertise to the women of Bangladesh.
From 18-21 January 2001 the first animator training for women led by women took place in Satkhira. Participants were selected from 12 "unions" (clusters of villages - the basic unit of local organization). The organizer of the event, Chandrika Banarjee, who is also a Volunteer Trainer, had her whole family participating in the event: her mother cooked, her father established important contacts, her husband filled out certificates, and her son brought our breakfast.
Achievements
- All 52 participants are leaders of local organizations or Union Parshad members. (A Union parshad is comparable to a Panchayat in India; this is the local elected government body) All participated fully and signed the declaration of what it means to be an animator. They made good plans. They left in tears, fully committed and enthusiastic.
- Participants understood the entire workshop contents and they were able to give many colorful examples from their own lives. They were quick with the principles, knew the sequence by heart, understood the 40-points and wanted to use them. They wrote very powerful letters after the 2nd and 3rd day - expressing the impact of the animator training in their lives.
- There was no male-female antagonism, just sharing of the hardships and dreams women have. They are willing to work in partnership with the men. As one woman said when her husband asked her why on earth she needed this training: "I’m learning how we can make a bigger success out of this family"
- The content was delivered in shorter time, each day from 10 AM – 4.30 PM, with 2 new parts: a longer session on women's empowerment and a session on the "Information Bulletin" - a new publication designed to provide grassroots women with information on their basic rights and on key issues such as nutrition, health, education and income.
- All sessions were delivered by women trainers. They all did well. Many led sessions for the first time.
- The two male coordinators were very supportive, didn’t interfere even once but rather coached the Volunteer Trainers, adding some points to their session plan and giving constructive feedback afterwards.
- The initial goal of having Volunteer Trainers lead Animator Trainings in the future now has become reality. This is a breakthrough that could really mean becoming a quickly expanding movement.
- The training was locally supported by UNO, the Union Parshad chairman and other local leaders. The organizer Chandrika has done a great job. She has chosen women leaders from all levels and created a very positive environment.
Personally I’m excited. I think we found a way to really reach women, to let them speak and to empower them to take action. What worked is the love and solidarity between women, being allowed the freedom to do the training their way, to express themselves without the fear of being told off.
-Elisabeth
Click here for the previous update by Badiul Majumdar, August 2000.