Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

Skip to content
Back

The Unexpected Learning Exchanged: Gender Consciousness and Capacity

febrero 2015

Humanity cannot solve its problems with one hand effectively tied behind its back. Yet, given the state of women’s rights globally, this is metaphorically the case. One of the guiding principles of Grassroots International’s work is the recognition and support of women’s agency in the struggle for justice and liberation – not just to advance women’s leadership (though that is a goal) but also because women’s engagement and leadership are necessary to push us all forward. The Brazil Agroecology Learning Exchange revealed several instances of such agency. Ponnuthai of the Tamil Nadu Women’s Collective, one of the participants at the learning exchange, shared the challenges facing women peasants in India. She described the struggle to be recognized as legitimate farmers, with clear access and title to land. Such recognition is essential to access government subsidies. This government assistance would then give women greater opportunity to generate and control their own income, which not only alleviates the immediate realities of poverty but liberates women from the restraints of sexism and misogyny. Another example of this liberating agency comes from Vani, a literacy teacher for teens and adults and a member of Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement. She meets regularly with a group of 5-10 women to plan community projects. The group has decided to start an organic garden and a small business selling sweets at the local market. Several learning exchange participants were impressed by how the host organization, the Popular Peasant Movement (MCP). The MCP is a women-led organization that promotes agroecology, peasant autonomy and the production and dissemination of creole seeds. It was women of the MCP that led the campaign for the Brazilian federal school lunch program. Furthermore, MCP women prepare meals and snacks that are then sold as part of the lunch program.  Lastly, MCP women shared the story of women-led negotiations with the city government of Catalao to use city property free of charge for a weekly farmers market. The market has been a huge success. The women who run the market collectively agree upon prices to avoid competition and ensure fair compensation.   As with many learning exchanges, the Brazil Agroecology Learning Exchange offered hands-on techniques to be learned and many ‘best practices’ to be shared.  However, something less tangible emerged once again, that very real quality that sustains and nurtures those engaged in the struggle for justice—solidarity.  Grassroots International, in all its endeavors, knows that this cannot be undervalued, nor underestimated. 

Lo último del centro de aprendizaje
Volver arriba