A well-defined and persistent strategy
In Paraguay, domestic workers are the second largest female labour force. According to data from the General Directorate of Statistics, Surveys and Censuses (DGEEC), there are approximately 220,000 women who are engaged in paid domestic work. Despite being one of the most common jobs, the rights of these workers remain unrecognised and discrimination is part of their day-to-day lives. For female domestic workers, being organised was the key that allowed them not only to become empowered but to demand to be seen, heard and respected as full-fledged workers.
Librada (49) and Ludi (44) live in the San Pedro Etapa IV neighbourhood, one of the housing complexes built in the city of Encarnación by Entidad Binacional Yacyreta for families affected by the creation of the Yacyretá Dam. Librada is originally from the city of Hohenau and she comes from a family of twelve siblings, while Ludi was born in Encarnación. As children, both experienced the naturalisation of child labour and criadazgo, customs rooted in Paraguayan society that are still being fought today. At just eight years old, Librada looked after a baby in exchange for milk and cheese, and at sixteen she began to work as a domestic worker. Ludi also worked looking after children when she was thirteen years old herself.
In 2011 they began forming SINTRADI after a training session for domestic workers provided by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Librada’s employer at the time, Isolina, who worked at the Centre for Multidisciplinary Research for Development (CIMDE), encouraged her to attend the training session and she invited nine other colleagues. "That was when we discovered that there was a domestic workers’ union in Asunción," recalls Librada. Determined to establish a regional union, Librada summoned more women to a new series of training sessions in conjunction with other organisations, and on January 8, 2012 they officially founded SINTRADI. Ludi was her neighbour and was one of the first to join the new organisation. "I had no idea that I had rights as a domestic worker, nor that we could unionise. Librada invited me to the workshops, to the training sessions, and that's when I found out," explains Ludi.
During the pandemic, SINTRADI did not receive any institutional, local or national support. Within the framework of projects implemented with organisations such as Fondo de Mujeres del Sur and the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), of which they are founding members, they organised activities and raised money to create food packages to distribute and organise community soup kitchens, one of the most common community solidarity practices during the pandemic and generally promoted by women. "We supported more than two thousand people with the community soup kitchen and we reached more than two hundred families with the food packages," says Librada.
So many things have changed since that meeting in Librada's house when SINTRADI was formed. The then 33 members are now almost 300, but they aim to reach many more in all the districts of the Itapúa department.
On the other hand, several members decided to start their university studies. Celina and another colleague, Fátima, will graduate with their law degrees next year, and they hope to support the union in their new role. Librada is in her second year of Social Work after finishing high school in 2016. With regards to this, she highlights that "it is important to get training and an education, domestic work is very nice but we don’t have to do it forever, we can move on, look for other things to do; for example, several colleagues have gone back to finish high school."
Read the full report at mujeresdelsur.org or follow the links below.
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Let's strengthen the women's networks that keep us Together, Stronger and Alive
Did you know that building networks is essential for women? Networks are key to reducing isolation and lack of information and ensuring our rights are upheld.
A network of women can start with something as simple as a chat. Contact between one woman and another, a neighbor or a friend, opens the door for a connection. That is how groups emerge which then become a space for dialogue and within these groups support and trusted information are provided.
The network grows. More women join. They listen to each other. They organize themselves. They begin to establish mutual and collective strategies to think about, share and confront what happens in their lives.
This is also how ventures arise to strengthen their economic autonomy. Workshops with training or trade skills make overcoming the lack of opportunities possible.
In each community and in each neighborhood, the networks that are woven are a vital tool to provide support, prevent and eradicate the various types of violence that stop women and girls from fully living their lives.
That's where your support comes in. Your contribution is a fundamental part of sustaining these networks. Your donation is transformed into resources that enhance the work of organized women.
For more than ten years, Fondo de Mujeres del Sur has been mobilizing resources to strengthen women's and LBTIQ+ people's organizations in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
You are a key part of our donor community and of the transformation. Keep supporting us, donate and share our work!
Watch our video and learn more on how women's networks work and what we can achieve with your donations!
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In June, the month of Ni Una Menos, FMS discusses with organizations that work in the prevention and eradication of gender-based violence their experience during the pandemic and what is most important today.
Ni Una Menos (Not one woman less) is the name given in Argentina to the women's movement that said -"Enough is enough! No more sexist violence, no more femicides!" The first and massive demonstration on June 3, 2015, was held simultaneously in eighty cities across the country. It became a milestone in the history of feminisms and movements. Since then, the call to action continues to spread and it has taken on new dimensions, and beyond just Argentina. Today, Ni Una Menos is a call for the end of sexist violence in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
In this opportunity, we spoke to Asociación Con Voz (Cordoba, Argentina), an organization supported by FMS and committed to the prevention, treatment, and research related to sexist violence. They provide training, advice, and support to the community and to those who are in a situation of violence in any of its forms.
"The situation of violence in Cordoba was overwhelming. Working virtually forced us to reduce support to women with access to mobile devices or the internet. All the same, we were able to refer women quickly because we work with a resource map."
"Working in peripheral sectors and establishing networks. Offering training using everyday language to share knowledge and rights so that women can internalize the information. Providing training to teachers at all different levels in Comprehensive Sexual Education (known by its Spanish acronym as ESI)."
"The implementation of the Micaela Law. It is key that support and accompaniment provided to women, children, and adolescents is improved; to guarantee access to first response assistance, support, and resources, and to avoid further violence and abuse by institutions."
To find out more about their work, visit their website (http://convoz.org/).
And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
We are grateful for your generosity and commitment. In this difficult time, your active support is very important to encourage the work done by women organizations building lives free from discrimination and violence.
Thanks to you we can be
Together, Stronger and Alive!
Ni Una Menos (Not One Woman Less) Vivas Nos Queremos (We want us alive)
2021 has come and, despite the immense difficulties of 2020, the FMS team and all organizations building lives free from violence are working stronger than ever!
As the year starts, we wanted to share with you more information on our work. You may already know, we are a Women’s Fund. It’s stated in our name. But you may wonder, what exactly is that?
A women's fund is a philanthropic organization governed by women, whose primary purpose is to provide financial support to women-led organizations that advance the leadership and empowerment of women and LBTIQ+ people. So, at FMS, we finance and support grassroots initiatives, organizations, and networks that work to achieve transformative results towards gender equality and justice. Our goal is to strengthen women, feminist and diversity movements, from a human rights-based approach, gender perspective, empowerment, intersectionality, and interculturality.
So, why are Women’s Funds important?
You can learn more about this on this video we made together with our partners at Women's Fund Asia @wfasia, Foro Internacional de Mujeres Indígenas @fimi_iiwf, and African Women's Development Fund @theawdf
You have a fundamental role: your support makes this possible. With your donation, you provide these organizations with resources, strengthen their work and help amplify their voices. Thank you once again!
International Women's Day
March 8th is right around the corner. We would like to celebrate International Women's Day with you all as it is a very special date to raise our voices for a world free from gender-based violence. We will be participating in the International Women’s Week fundraising campaign, from 8M to 12M, and we really hope we can count on your support.
This 2021 we are aiming to achieve our $10.000 goal and multiply our impact.
As usual, we would be really happy to hear from you. Remember you can write directly to donantes@mujeresdelsur.org and don’t forget to follow our social media.
Thanks to you we can be Together, Stronger and Alive!
Have a great 2021!!
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Today we want to share with you the work of Casa Comunidad, one of the organizations you have supported with your September donations.
It’s November already and the pandemic is still (and will continue to be) compelling for women and LBTQ+ organizations. Social isolation was the main government measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Women found themselves acting as first responders as violence against women and girls increases due to isolation and lack of services in their remote locations. Statistics are troubling: 65% of femicides occur at homes.
But, isolated does not mean alone!
Casa Comunidad is a space of accompaniment, emotional support, legal counseling and temporary shelter for women and children who have faced violence. They offer tools for the prevention and accompaniment of situations of gender-based violence in the city of Cordoba, Argentina, and other locations of the province. They also develop prevention and awareness campaigns on gender-based violence, recreational-cultural-educational workshops, therapeutic assistance, and promote the incorporation of women in productive projects that favor their economic autonomy.
Fondo de Mujeres del Sur have allocated flexible funds towards the work of Casa Comunidad thanks to your support.
The activism of Casa Comunidad was extremely strained during the pandemic, but they continued to be resilient and responded to the urgent needs of their community.
Thus, the organization was able to slim the technological gap and acquire computers, cellphones and other devices. Staying connected was the key to overcoming isolation. During the past months they hosted virtual gatherings to promote networking between sheltering houses of the city. Below some pictures of their incredible work.
Learn more on Casa Comunidad (EN)
Conocé más sobre Casa Comunidad (ES)
We are grateful for your generosity and commitment. In this difficult time, your active support is very important to encourage the work done by women organizations building lives free from discrimination and violence.
Thanks to you we can be
Together, Stronger and Alive!
Links:
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