Save the Children DFID WW&I Women’s Groups in Tajikistan struggle towards better environment for children

Women’s Groups are able to create better environment for their children and contribute to improvement of their community

Khuroson District, Jamoat S. Aini, Village Javoni with 1148 people (557 – men, 591 – women) residing in the village located in Khatlon region.  With total 163 households the village faces similar issues as in other rural areas of Tajikistan. The village has poor social infrastructure with only school, and no factories and workshops, and no any culture centers. The village even doesn’t have health care center and pharmacies. The population go to rayon center 8 km far from the village to see a doctor and obtain medicines.

The school village was established in 1977 and aimed at only for primary classes and consisted of one trailer. 78 children studied in this school in inadequate conditions. Due to the limited space, classes were provided in 3 shifts. In 2010 the local government assigned resources and constructed a building with additional 4 classes. However the number of population increased year by year and the school still needed for additional classes. The same year the foundation for more 5 classrooms was laid but due to the lack of resources the construction was frozen.

Due to the limited classrooms children had to go to a school #44 located in neighboring village Achi. Children had to cross a highroad to get the school. In 2011 a boy of 11, was hit by a car while crossed the highroad. Luckily a boy kept alive though was injured seriously. The accident impacted every single village woman. They really worried about their children’s safety.

Three women’s groups “Javoni”, “Darvoz” and “Shodiyona” were established in 2012 under the DFID funded Women’s Wealth and Influence project. Each group consists of 25 women with age range between 30 and 65. Initial activities of the groups included farming, livestock breeding and sewing of the national staff.

“The project staff met with me first. They explained the project goal and objectives aimed at women empowerment. It’s traditionally that men are bread winners and women are house-fire keepers. However I liked the idea of establishing women’s groups and that would collect indifferent money and use them to solve own issues. Men decide what to do but they listen to opinions of their wives. I would like to see the village women get empowered” said Khidirov Bobosher, Head of Community of village Javoni.

 “When we learnt about the project goal and objectives we agreed to join the group. This first thing we wanted to change in our lives was to create better and safer environment for our children” stated Ashurova Fahriniso, 54, Leader of WG Javoni.   Once the groups established in the village construction of additional classrooms at the school #50 was initiated. They started from meetings with the school principal, head of community and residents of the village.  However, women understood that their savings were not enough for construction and they needed for village men’s support. They mobilized the whole community and went request help to local government. Women’s voice was heard, and the government assigned resources to the school. In 2014 with the force of village population and support of local government the school had 5 more additional classrooms. In 2014 September 15, the school was officially approved as the school providing with incomplete secondary education (up to 9th grade).

“Now we have additional classes and our children don’t go cross the highroad to get another school” said Lola Juraqulova, 50, Member of WG Javoni. Women’s groups inspired of own achievements started thinking about of the construction of a toilet at the school, as the existing one has single entry and didn’t meet safety requirements. The lack of toilet at the school brings to children’s, especially girls’ drop out. “Our girls missed some classes due to the lack of a toilet at the school, especially in winter times” said Lola Juraqulova, member of WG Javoni. Women again mobilized community and made own contribution to construction of new school toilet. The project engineer Ibragim Saidonov helped them with designing and calculating of the budget. He advised on using low-cost and available materials. The engineer was engaged in the project to provide information and guidance on steps to take for construction works. The construction started in August, 2015 and finished in October, 2015.

Now the school has a toilet with two entries for boys and girls, and a woodshed. “After the construction of new classes and the toilet the school increased the number of children and improved their attendance” stated Alimhonov Nishon, School Principal.

However women didn’t slow their aspiration toward improvement of environment for their children. They recognized that need for a settled plan. With the assistance of the project staff Bakhtigul Bakhmatova, women together with the school principal developed strategic plan for the school development and decided that the next action would be construction of water reservoir at the school.

Women also started thinking about the construction of a health care center in the village. “We know that able to do things we never have done before and would not stop our activities towards improvement of our environment. We just need for some advice and support of our men, and together we are the tremendous force” stated Gulmurodova Qorasoch.

The Women’s Wealth and Influence (WW&I) project is a self-directed participant driven methodology that puts development in the hands of the participants.  It is essentially an empowerment program. The women are never directed to do any particular thing or undertake any particular activity for the achievement of their goals. Through the project, Save the Children International is working to address the gendered barriers women in rural Tajikistan face, which in turn have a significant impact on the lives of their children