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Capacity building
programmes has been one of our strengths when we initiated
Sakhi. Our work with the marginalized communities equipped
us to be very sensitive to the methodologies and tools
in sharing knowledge and building capabilities. We have
done a number of trainings, workshops and courses with
an ever-expanding constituency and a continually evolving
feminist training methodology.In congruence with our
mission of mainstreaming gender in the public discourse
of Kerala, as well as facilitating capacity building
of women leaders and women's groups, Sakhi has undertaken
to conduct number of training programmes on gender,
health and development, adolescent issues and leadership
development.
Besides,
residential trainings and courses, we also organize
seminars and workshops on issues of current relevance.
This is meant to sensitize participants on a gender
perspective of development issues
Gender
and Leadership Trainings
Gender as a concept
and tool of analysis is used differently by different
agencies. It is found in the documents of international
financial agencies like World Bank, donor agencies,
governments, NGO's and feminist groups. Many use it
apolitically, just as a tool of analysis, without integrating
with a systemic analysis of structures of patriarchy.
Sakhi is committed to enhance skills of gender trainers
from women's groups to bring in the right perspective
and analytical skills. We decided to select a core group
of activists and enhance their skills as gender trainers.
Sakhi
also continures to give community based training programmes
for women leaders of women's groups from villages where
our focused grass root initiatives are taking place.
Workshops
on Masculinity
In
the context of bringing about gender consciousness,the
need to gender sensitize men was emphasized very often
in the discussions with women. These workshops were
mainly conducted with young men from universities with
a view to bring about more studies and explorations
on how masculinities are getting constructed in the
context of Kerala.
A
core group of pro-feminist men have emerged out of this
process. They initiated a rally of men and conducted
a public meeting against violence during the 16-day
campaign for violence against women. The theme of masculinities
also figured at the workshop organised during the Kerala
social Forum in December 2002. Some scholars are now
pursuing studies on theories of body/construction of
masculinity in the context of Kerala.
Occasional
Seminars on current issues - This
was conducted depending on the issues covering wide
range of topics. Some of the current issues taken for
occasional seminars was PWDV Act,, Discussions after
viewing an issue based film etc
Training
manuals
Sakhi developed
a life skill training manual for adolescents
in malayalam called Blooming Buds and
three booklets on Me and My body for boys and
girls.
One of the major
achievements is the publication of a Gender Training
Manual in Malayalam. This was the result of many years
of work and is a compilation of the various modules
and sessions which are tested over the numerous training
programmes we had organized. It was released by Hon.
Finance Minister of the state, Dr. Thomas Issac in September
in a well attended public function. |
