Artistic and Non-Traditional Skills Development Programme for Disadvantaged Rural and Sub-urban Women

participant doing tilingThe Project sought to address to some degree the problems/issues of poverty, unemployment and underemployment of women in rural and sub urban locations, quality of life of these women and their families, their security; gender issues such as gender bias, gender imbalances, gender intolerance often reflected in violent behaviour; and gradual loss of traditional and cultural practices through the equipping of women with skills in traditional and male dominated fields.  The training workshops provided included:

  1. Small Appliance Repairs
  2. Plumbing
  3. Tile Laying
  4. Local Craft & Creative Arts
  5. Wines, Liquor and Food Preparation
  6. Personal Development and Basic Entrepreneurial Skills

participants in art workshop

It was expected that the acquisition of such skills would assist in job creation/self-employment thereby helping participants to generate income.  A broader income base for women would result in improved quality of life, and economic independence, which would also be a deterrent to the acceptance of antisocial behaviour such as domestic violence.  Such positive results in the status of these women would also allow for their improved performance and increased potential to contribute to community and national development.  Improved self-esteem and growth in participants’ confidence level would serve to strengthen leadership, decision-making and problem solving abilities and the offer of entrepreneurial skills hoped to motivate participants to undertake small enterprise development.