BARONESS VIVIEN STERN CHARMS THE WOMEN’S GROUPS OF KHUROSON DISTRICT, TAJIKISTAN

A high level delegation from the British government learned the secrets of success of women’s groups in Khuroson District on Monday.

Leading the visit was Baroness Vivien Stern, a member of the British Parliament House of Lords, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group in Tajikistan and the President of the British-Tajik Society.

In the company of DFID representatives and Save the Children staff, Baronness Stern met 12 women leaders and their groups from Khuroson District in order to share living and working experiences and learn more about women’s social and economic well-being in southern Tajikistan.

Some illustrative goodwill included:

- Melihol Karaeva praised the visitors for showing interest in their groups. She mentioned that her village has 12 women’s groups consisting of 540 members. The women support each other and even provide assistance to the local authority to solve social issues. As an example of a self-help approach, Melihol said that they collected resources for disaster mitigation work, paying a machine operator to clear a drainage canal to reduce the dangers of flooding.

- Jamila Yuldasheva explained that due to the work of their women’s groups all births in her village are now registered and that they help group members get their national ID cards. “We have also improved the immunization practices and coverage levels for children,” added Jamila, “and we see the health of babies improving and that is a wonderful thing”.

Baroness Vivien Stern talks with women from Khuroson District

- Faizigul Nurova stated how very proud they are that among the 17 districts in Tajikistan where women’s groups are in action, the Baroness Stern was able to visit their groups.

- Sabohat Kenjaeva is proud that she plays a role in this project. She was able to open an entrepreneurial activity through the collective work of her group. “It would have been difficult to start were I not a member,” she said.

- Zulfiya Nurova mentioned that the group helped her to purchase various vegetable seeds and then sell the harvest locally since the main market is too distant from their village.

Baroness Stern commiserated that as women we understand each other and are personally familiar with common gender issues. “I’m sure the problems here are different from other countries, but in basic form they are similar – women have to take care of their children, their parents, and need to be sure they have money to feed their families,” she said.

“This is a very happy day for me. What you do makes the world a better place. Your project is very famous and people talk about this programme. I’m so pleased and happy to see you all,” said Baroness Vivien Stern.