Women of Africa

Women of Africa (WOA) is a non-govermental organisation founded in 2002 which aims to develop programmes that empower and promote the most vulnerable and marginalised – women, the young and children. They promote dialogue north-south; south-south through partner projects which respond to the real needs of populations in difficulty. In addition, they employ local talent and giving them greater responsibility and tools for autonomy in order to allow them to stay in their communities and to participate in the development of their country and community.

WOA means ‘you’ in some African languages.

Programmes

• ENERPRO (Environnement Energie Renouvelable et Propreté): sensibilises populations to the problems of the environment, renewable energies (solar panels etc), disposal of waste and puts in plae a local organisation which removes local waste, recycles and brings it to an incinerator installed in periurban and rural zones which allows for the production of energy (biogaz).
• EDUCAF (Education et Alphabétisation pour les filles, les femmes et les jeunes): allows children and teens in difficulty to have access to school, learn to read and write. It also allows women to follow literacy courses, and classes on child health, family economics or learn vocational skills.
• SANIPRO (Santé, Prévention et Information de proximité):brings medical assistance, health and hygiene information and provides preventative mesasures again malnutrition. the programme establishes a community pharmacy, a mobile dispensary, trains health agents and fights AIDS and other diseases such as asthma, breast and uterine cancer.
• DEVILA (Développement, Entreprenariat des Initiatives locales et artisanales): supports the creation of microfinance projects at village level. The programme helps women in the informal sector to develop activities to improve their skills and to artisans to better market their products.
• INFOCOM (Informatique, Nouvelles Technologies et Communication): The programme allows women and the young access to information technoloages. These technologies are also intalled in schools and local fora where specific training in computers, multimedia, communication and radio are provided.
• FORMA (Formations et Formateurs pour l’Afrique): This programme allows young and adults to receive professional training in the following professions (health, social, ariculture, technological, baker, masonry, sewing, hairdressing, butchery). The courses are given by international and local staff.
• PARRAINOR (Parrainage des orphelins et enfants défavorisés): This programme gives orphans until the age of 18 to be fostered and supported by foster fathers or mothers in Africa or abroad. These children benefit from the social, medical and educational support framework of WOA in collaboration with their sponsor who donates a monthly sum of 15 euros to support the needs of the orphan.
• AMEREC (Aménagement et reconstruction): This programme allows the reconstruction of roads in small villages or in the country to facilitate access and transport and to rehabilitate spaces previously abandonned by creating stores social restaurants or community centres.
• CULTURAS (Culture, Art et Sport): This programme promotes and develops cultural, artistic and sport activities in order to encourage young alents in the domains of music, fashion, sport, the arts, cinema, audiovisual, dance and architecture.
• AGRIVAL (Agriculture et valorisation alimentaire): Puts in place rural cooperatives to improve access to local markets, espeically for women who have microfinance projects to help them sell their merchandise. This programme helps women to develop and improve their products and outputs.

References

• http://www.womenofafrica.org/