Women Empowerment through Decent Employment (WEDE)
| Coverage |
Sitakund Upazilla, Chittagong City |
| Duration |
Since 2002 |
Situation
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, Bangladesh 's population is comprised mostly of rural people, or approximately 79.1 per cent; women constitute 45.6 per cent of rural inhabitants. WEDE aims to reduce poverty by generating decent employment, specifically concentrating on women in rural areas
After eight years working with its Participatory Savings and Credit Program, YPSA realized that credit support alone was not sufficient for economic emancipation. Under YPSA's Micro Enterprise and Development Program, WEDE was developed to provide technical support for its graduate members, and help vulnerable people promote their businesses in an effective manner.
Objectives:
- Empower rural women by providing skill development training and awareness-building activities
- Reduce gender discrimination through development of women leadership
- Abolish child labour through creating alternative income sources for the families of poor children
Initiative
YPSA empowers rural women and reduces gender discrimination through:
1. Skills development training and awareness building activities
- Block and batik
- Advanced tailoring
- Cow and beef fattening
- Poultry rearing
- Homestead gardening
2. Developing women entrepreneurship
- Establishing the Aungshee Display and Sales Center where women entrepreneurs can sell their merchandise
- Training for Entrepreneurship Development and Business Management (EDBM)
- Book keeping training
3. Creating alternative finance sources for poor families
- linking 12 members with financial institutions
4. Providing technical support
- Opened one business advisory center for rural women
- Giving information about the market
Outcomes
WEDE has positively affected 560 impoverished rural women. 517 of these women have received EDBM training and 189 have accomplished skill development training. In addition, 74 members have gone through book keeping training. Finally, 228 women have participated in workshops about market information. As a result of the book keeping and market information sessions, rural women in Sitakund have more knowledge about methods to run their business.
WEDE continues to make progress by exposing rural women to different business markets. They were able to take part in nine trade fares, including one abroad. YPSA would like to keep linking members with financial institutions. Savings provides poor families with security, and an option to send their children to school.
Supporting Organizations
Women Empowerment through Employment and Health (WEEH), International Labour Organization (ILO) and YPSA
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