Empowerment of women, food insecurity and kitchen gardening in a squatter settlement of Karachi
Abstract
Background: Since 2008, a Karachi based Foundation working on social development through prototype projects in urban settings approached Sultanabad, located in Kemari town to support their families by enhancing their skills in... [ view full abstract ]
Background:
Since 2008, a Karachi based Foundation working on social development through prototype projects in urban settings approached Sultanabad, located in Kemari town to support their families by enhancing their skills in food insecurity. In 2013, community based organization named as Community Management Association was identified by the Foundation to conduct workshop on capacity building of women which was attended by 100 community women.
Method:
The Foundation organized training program in collaboration with CHMA on `Kitchen Gardening’. The training enhanced the knowledge of women on how to utilize used water in gardening and grow different vegetables/plants to generate income. After completion, women decided to take following responsibilities in groups:
• Replication of training
• Practical implementation
• Income generation by demonstration plots for kitchen gardening
• Influence policy development process of local municipal corporate
Effective assessment was done by researcher conducting meetings, interviews and focus group discussions with 93 trainees. Seven women were not available.
Results:
Around 20% women replicated the training by conducting workshop for 300 community women. Trainers faced problem of limited resources but through community participation, the issue was resolved. 33% women adopted an innovative idea and started kitchen gardening in nearby areas. 10% women established small shops in Mohala to sell seeds, learning material, soil, fertilizers and pesticides. 30% women approached officials of municipal corporation of their area to develop policy for empowerment of women and support their income generating projects. The municipal corporation allocated small areas in parks to grow vegetables. This improved the nutrition level and generated some money to use for education and treatment of their children.
Conclusion:
The strategy adopted by the Foundation and CHMA for women empowerment supported them to improve nutrition level of food and introduce innovative opportunities for income generation by keeping their cultural and traditional limitations intact.
Authors
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Fouzia Arif
(Marie Stopes Society)
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Arif Sher Mohammad
(National Committee for Maternal & Neonatal Health)
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muhammad yousuf
(Aga Khan University)
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Hafsa Altaf
(Marie Stopes Society)
Topic Area
III. Urban Environments: what specificities? 3.1 Urban Environments as places of demograph
Session
PS-1 » POSTER SESSION 1 (12:10 - Friday, 1st April, TBA)
Paper
Women_Empowerment_submnitted_version.docx
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