Originally by Balungile Belz, edited by Magdalena Palavecino
This International Women’s Day, we want to shine a light on four groundbreaking grassroots organizations from the GlobeMed network whose work contributes to improving women’s health across the globe.
Set Her Free, Uganda | GlobeMed at The George Washington University
Set Her Free (SHF) is a non-profit that strives to empower women in Uganda to become self-sustaining by providing vocational training, health services, formal education, and rehabilitative services. Founded in 2011 by Robinah Muganzi and Robin Nestler — two women who believe that every girl should be given the opportunity for a better future — the vocational training SHF offers includes hairdressing, tailoring, bead-making, nail technician, and catering. Having a deep understanding of the obstacles that their community faces, SHF also offers housing and food, finds sponsors for girls enrolled in formal education, and most importantly creates a welcoming community where the girls feel safe and loved. SHF knows that bolstering academic performance without also providing consistent, nutritious meals would not be sufficient to sustainably help their community. Similarly, administering medical services without improving health knowledge does little to reduce Uganda’s rising HIV prevalence rates. Set Her Free implements all of these aspects together, holistically transforming Ugandan women’s lives.
Did you know that GlobeMed at The George Washington University and Set Her Free have been partnered since 2014!
Social Action for Women, Thailand | GlobeMed at the University of Cincinnati
Social Action for Women (SAW) was founded in 2000 to assist women displaced from Burma who are in crisis situations after having fled to Thailand. Due to Burma’s long history of oppressive military rule and ongoing ethnic conflict, migrants and refugees flee to neighboring countries in search of security and opportunity. SAW is based in Mae Sot and initially supported women facing difficulties by providing shelter, health education, rights awareness, counseling, and vocational training through what they call Women Talk and Family Talk. SAW has since expanded its focus population to include men and children in Burmese communities along the Thai-Burma border. Currently, SAW has over 20 growing programs aimed at caring for and educating Burmese migrants and refugees in the Mae Sot and Phop Phra districts.
Did you know that in 2008, SAW was one of 25 organizations worldwide to receive the Red Ribbon Award from the United Nations Development Programme for providing outstanding HIV prevention, treatment, and education on a grassroots level.
Sacred Valley Health, Peru | GlobeMed at the University of Texas, San Antonio
Sacred Valley Health (SVH) believes that healthcare is a human right and that vibrant local communities play the largest role in realizing this goal. Located high in the Andean mountains, they are full of culture and tradition, but communities lack access to basic healthcare. SVH was formed in 2012 to improve access to health in remote communities of Peru’s Sacred Valley. With a dedicated staff, SVH recruits, trains, and supports promotoras (community health workers) who provide fundamental health education in their home communities. Promotoras are elected by their community’s general assembly, and 95% of them are women. SVH’s promotora training lasts two years, after which employment options are available as trainers for incoming community health workers. As they advance through the program, promotoras take on a leadership role in her community and become the community’s health liaison to the government health system. Through experiential learning opportunities, promotoras also share their expertise with groups and individuals interested in learning more about their skillset and lives.
Did you know that this past month, Sacred Valley Health obtained second place out of more than 400 applicants and was awarded a grant from Peru Voluntario that will help them implement their new Graduated Promotora Program.
Alternative for Rural Movement, India | GlobeMed at the University of South Carolina
Alternative for Rural Movement (ARM) believes that large-scale development with “top-down” planning rarely achieves the “trickle down” effect, and that they should be superseded by poverty-oriented, participatory development through small-scale programs and “bottom-up” strategy. With 14 different projects focusing on social welfare, sanitation, sustainable agriculture, women empowerment, and child rights, ARM seeks an alternative strategy of rural social intervention that focuses on the most vulnerable. Through community meetings, the women of Orissa state are empowered to communicate about their problems with sanitation and savings, in an effort to become financially independent entrepreneurs. Over time, the participating women have started their own livelihood option with the establishment of different trades like poultry farming, vegetable cultivation, paddy husking, mushroom cultivation, and others. ARM has also worked hard to educate the community on different laws concerning women’s rights.
Did you know that in 2008, ARM received the Certificate of Appreciation from the the Collector and District Magistrate of Balasore for their “excellent contribution in Women Empowerment Activities in the district for the year 2007–08″ as well as an award from the Chief of Minister of Orissa.
GlobeMed chapters across the United States and in Rwanda support 36 partner organizations working to build healthier communities across 20 countries in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Today, we remember the women and co-conspirators who are committed to shaping a world with health equity. Thank you!
