Grassroots African Women's Conference
December 1-4, 2006
Bondo, Kenya
The second of the 6 GTW Congresses on 6 Continents was held in Bondo, Kenya and brought together
513 grassroots women from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, South Africa, Zambia
and North America. In the words of event organizer Joyce Oneko, "It is grassroots women who carry
the burdens of ensuring that their children are fed, educated and have worthy futures, of caring
for those suffering from AIDS and other diseases, of building and maintaining the social fabric
of their communities for the benefit of all ... Grassroots women develop programs that work extremely
well, but these are rarely shared with their peers or the wider world in an effective manner."
For three days at a Teacher's College in rural Kenya, grassroots women of Africa were given this
rare opportunity to exchange information about their local programs, to explore together their
challenges and to celebrate their successes.
The conference was focused on four topics of interest: 1) women and health, 2) food security and the
environment, 3) economic empowerment and 4) capacity building. After hearing presentations about model
programs and innovative resources in each of these areas, participants were able to select workshops
which allowed highly interactive participation and a focus upon practical skills and networking. A lively
Marketplace allowed regional women to sell crafts and products, and the delegates from North America
decorated a Meditation and Prayer Room which offered the women a quiet and beautiful space for reflection.
The entire event was punctuated by spontaneous singing and dancing.
Joyce reports that there is a continuing 'buzz' in the rural areas of East Africa as a result of this
gathering. Women who attended the conference have begun to host their own local events to share what
they learned; one such event anchored by the Engorika Women's Group in Tanzania drew more than 250 local
women who were eager to hear about new ideas. Joyce also plans to create a network of women's centers
which can serve as local hubs for teaching practical skills, access to computers and micro-lending programs.
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