WOUGNET Update Newsletter - September 2002

[Dorothy Okello <dokello@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

WOUGNET Update Newsletter - September 2002
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Here is a list of what's new at the Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
website - http://www.wougnet.org For comments or queries,
please contact info@xxxxxxxxxxx

To subscribe/unsubscribe to the WOUGNET Update Newsletter, send a
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WHAT'S NEW
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1. WOMEN ORGANISATIONS IN UGANDA

= Nakazadde Ward Women Development Association (NAWDA)
Based in Lugazi, NAWDA's mission is for the empowerment of rural
women, female youths, and widows to improve their social economic
status through the development of small businesses via a sustainable
micro-finance institution.
We are kindly looking for partners and donors to fund our activities,
training the executive in micro-finance management or anybody or
organisation that can offer us assistance.
http://www.wougnet.org/wo_dir.html#NAWDA


= FOWODE: Gender Budget Project
For the last three years, Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) has
been implementing the Gender Budget project under its Advocacy
programme of activities. Available online are the following
documents:
1) Profile of the Gender Budget Project
2) Brochure of the Gender Budgeting Training (GBT) package developed
by FOWODE.
The GBT package can be used to lobby for gender-balanced national and
local government budgets that can address the needs of poor women and
men, girls and boys and give full attention to the disadvantaged
groups such as people with disabilities.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/fowode.html#AP


= Lungujja Women's Association (LWA) goes IT
In March 2002, LWA received a computer grant from KITE that included
coverage of the electricity, telephone and internet charges for one
year. The women of the Association fall in the age range of 22 - 60
years but it is very surprising that they have embraced this IT with
such earnest.
LWA is currently seeking the support of a volunteer trainer for the
group (many of the women still fear to switch on the machine). LWA is
also seeking further assistance from interested partners to be able
to sustain itself beyond 2002 when the KITE donation depletes.
http://www.wougnet.org/Documents/LWA/lwaitrep.html


NAWOU Report: Kampala-Johannesburg Women's Peace Train
"PEACE as a theme for Ugandan women at the World Summit for
Sustainable Development (WSSD)"
NAWOU was the Uganda focal point for the WSSD Women's Peace Train
project. In addition to marking the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD), the Peace Train project was an activity to mark
10 years of  NAWOU existence.
A report on the Peace Train activities in Uganda is available online.
Also available is a photo gallery including flag-off activities,
peace placards and torch/train stops in Uganda.
Following the report are links to interviews conducted by Feminist
International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) of (1) Litha
Musyimi-Agana,Kenya, the chief organiser of the Women's Peace Train
and (2) Sadre Twinomugisha of NAWOU.
http://www.wougnet.org/Documents/NAWOU/peacetrain.html



2. LINKS AND RESOURCES

a) African/International Women Organisations

= Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has a
long commitment, dating back to its establishment in 1915, to the
achievement of peace and justice, and the full enjoyment of
human rights. WILPF brings together women from all over the world who
are opposed to war, violence, exploitation and all forms of
discrimination and oppression, who wish to unite in establishing
peace by non-violent means based on political, economic and social
justice for all.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/africa_int.html#WILPF


b) Business

= Technology Helping Advance Women Entrepreneurs (THAWE)
Technology Helping Advance Women Entrepreneurs (THAWE) promotes the
sustainable growth of micro/small women-owned businesses in
developing nations by empowering women to transform their ideas into
reality, and at the same time establishes mutual understanding
between people of diverse cultures.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/business.html#THAWE


c) Development

= Uganda Community Based Association for Child Welfare (UCOBAC)
Uganda Community Based Association for Child Welfare (UCOBAC)'s
mission is to attain improved welfare of vulnerable children in
Uganda through capacity building of relevant actors, advocacy and
networking using Community Based Initiatives.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/development.html#UCOBAC


= Child Development Foundation (CDF)
Child Development Foundation (CDF), Mbale, Uganda, has so far 100
children under education sponsorship. Out of these we have 61 Aids
orphans, 29 are children whose parents died of other diseases or
other calamities and 10 are those from poor or irresponsible
families. In our Sponsor A Kid Programme, we are looking for people
concerned with education of disadvantaged children to join hands in
supporting these children.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/cdfmbale.html


d)  ICT-related organisations

= Computers for Africa
Computers for  Africa (CFA) launches new website: Computers for
Africa refurbishes used computers, networks them, and ships
ready-to-set-up labs to non-profit organizations in Africa. We focus
on the most disadvantaged groups-generally youth and women-as well as
organizations that work for positive social development. The CFA
website at http://www.computersforafrica.org includes information on
CFA goals and guidelines as well as CFA programmes and projects.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/cfaea.html


= Bridges.org
Bridges.org has a mission to help people in developing countries use
information and communications technology (ICT) to improve their
lives. Bridges.org promotes Real Access to ICT by  researching,
testing, and promoting best practices for sustainable, empowering
technology use. Bridges.org provides information and resources on the
digital divide, advises decision-makers on key issues, supports
grassroots projects, local businesses and e-government efforts,
offers an e-literacy tool for basic computer use and informing
Internet citizens, and implements pilot projects.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/ictresources.html#BRIDGES



e) Women & Gender

= International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
ICRW's mission is to improve the lives of women in poverty, advance
women's equality and human rights, and contribute to the broader
economic and social well-being. ICRW accomplishes this, in
partnership with others, through research, capacity building, and
advocacy on issues affecting women's economic, health, and social
status in low- and middle-income countries.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/aboutwomen.html#ICRW


= Siyanda - Mainstreaming Gender Equality
The overall aim of Siyanda is to support practitioners in
implementing gender programmes and in mainstreaming gender equality
concerns into all programmes/projects, whether they are gender
specialists or not. Siyanda aims to assist busy gender practitioners
with locating essential gender mainstreaming resources, quickly and
easily. It is also an interactive space where gender practitioners
can share ideas, experiences and resources with like-minded
colleagues.
http://www.wougnet.org/Links/aboutwomen.html#SIYANDA



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EVENTS & NEWS
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June 2002

= Report: Horn of Africa regional conference on women and ICTs,
   June 3-7, 2002
The Horn of Africa regional conference on women and ICTs
was organised by the African Centre for Women, Information and
Communications Technology (ACWICT). A report on the regional
conference as well as a joint presentation by WOUGNET and
Lungujja Women's Association are available at:
http://www.wougnet.org/Reports/HOARC/hoarep.html
The conference was crowned by the launching of the Horn of Africa
Women's Network (HAWKNet), whose website is at:
http://www.acwict.or.ke/Hawknet/default.htm


= Online Conference: Information Access for Rural Women, June 3-21
In June 2002, WOUGNET hosted an online conference on Information
Access for Rural Women (IARW). The objective of the conference was to
facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences on information
access for rural women. Available from the conference webpage is a
report on the online conference - in English, French, Swahili and
Spanish. The conference webpage is at:
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/iarw.html#REPORT  (English site)
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/iarw_fr.html#RAPPORT  (French site)

The IARW online conference report was presented at the Kampala Know
How Conference. More than 200 women from 46 countries participated in
the conference held July 23 to 27, 2002 at Makerere University.
Relating to rural women, the Kampala Know How Conference 2002
Declaration had the following recommendations:
1) Funding needs to be found and earmarked for increasing rural
women's access to information
2) Surveys and studies already underway on the information needs of
rural women are supported and new research is recommended
3) Rural multi-purpose community telecentres are supported and
encouraged, with special efforts made to develop programs that are
appropriate, relevant and in local languages.
The Kampala Declaration and some reports from the Know How Conference
are available online at:
http://www.isiswomen.org/onsite/know-how.htm
http://www.penelopes.org



September 2002

= REMINDER:  2002 APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize
The 2002 theme for the APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize is
"People-Centred Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Policy in Africa". The prize is open to civil society organisations,
government institutions, educational organisations, community-based
groups, networks, social movements and individuals anywhere in
Africa. APC Africa is looking for ICT *policy*  initiatives that: (1)
are people-centred and mobilise participation, (2) raise awareness
and build capacity, (3) are Africa-driven and that develop Africa,
(4) have positive community impact at community level. The prize of
USD$7,500.00 will be shared amongst up to three winning initiatives.
The deadline for nominations is September 15, 2002.
http://www.wougnet.org/projectnews.html#APCAFRICA


= Online discussion: African Women and NEPAD
African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) in
partnership with the Association for Progressive Communications
(APC)-Africa-Women is hosting an e-mail discussion on African Women
and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The
discussion will be conducted from September to December 2002.
Discussion will be in French and English, and will focus on the
following topics:
1)  A brief summary of and discussion on women's concerns around
NEPAD from the analysis that has been done so far;
2)  The NEPAD Initial Action Plan and the G8 Initial Action Plan for
Africa;
3)  The NEPAD Declaration on Political, Economic and Corporate
Governance and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM);
4) Priorities for a NEPAD for African women (Shadow NEPAD).
http://www.wougnet.org/projectnews.html#NEPAD



November 2002

= 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence: Creating a Culture
    that Says No to Violence Against Women, November 25 - December
    10, 2002
For the past eleven years, over 1, 000 individuals and organizations
from over 100 countries have sponsored activities in their
communities during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence,
November 25 - December 10, to raise awareness about all forms of
violence against women. During this year's campaign, advocates are
encouraged to discuss and strategize around the link between culture
and all forms of violence against women: violence that women
experience in their homes, in their communities, by the state, by
non-state actors, during times of war and during times of peace.
http://www.wougnet.org/projectnews.html#16DAYS


= Collective Volunteer Pledge For Needy Children Festival
Africamix-Uganda announces a change of dates for the Collective
Volunteer Pledge For Needy Children Festival, which will now be held
from November 16 to 17 (instead of 7-8th of September). The two-day
arts and music festival will provide a forum for volunteer guest
speakers to promote public awareness of the ongoing impact of child
abuse.
http://www.wougnet.org/projectnews.html#AMIX



February 2003

= AMANITARE: Second announcement and call for applications
AMANITARE is pleased to release the second announcement and call
for applications for the "African Women's Sexual and Reproductive
Health and Rights Conference: Prosperity through Empowerment",
February 4th-7th, 2003. The second announcement includes the
conference agenda, logistics and application procedure.
http://www.wougnet.org/Events/projectnews03.html#AWHC


To list your event/news on the WOUGNET website, send details about
the event/news including contact information to: news@xxxxxxxxxxx



~~~~~~~~~~
WebDesign
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Donated Website: Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors
     * URL:  http://www.auwmd.interconnection.org/
     * Site designed and created by: Rebecca Yoo, Virtual
               Volunteer for InterConnection

The Association of Uganda Women Medical Doctors (AUWMD) is a
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) established in 1987 with the
purpose of improving the health status of the population of Uganda,
especially, women, children and adolescents. Membership to the
Association is open to all women doctors and female dentists working
in Uganda whether Ugandans or not, as well as, female medical
students.
http://www.wougnet.org/Profiles/auwmd.html

The WebDesign program is a partnership of WOUGNET and InterConnection
to donate websites to WOUGNET members that meet InterConnection's
criteria for website donation. Information about the WebDesign
program, including an application form, is available at:
http://www.wougnet.org/Support/webdesign.html
To receive information by email, contact webadmin@xxxxxxxxxxxx



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