Excerpt from:“Learning from Women

for a World in Crisis”Newcomb College Institute 2007 Summit:

Educating Women for a World in CrisisFebruary 8-11, 2007. Tulane University, New Orleans

Maureen Fordham BSc PhDNorthumbria University

Disaster and Development CentreMaureen.fordham@northumbria.ac.uk

Let’s begin here…

Why show a picture of donkeys?

Let’s begin with a storygiven to me by Tess Sprayson, who is a vet (and a student with our MSc) who has just carried out a needs assessment in Samburu District in KenyaVetDMI -Veterinary Disaster Management International

Tess’ storyTess: I went to the village elders to ask permission to be in their territory, no problem. Discussed with men and elders problems in donkey health etc.The Men: Yes, some problems. Yes, we lost a few donkeys... Tess: I went to the women ... The Women: Yes, we've had a terrible time. Tess: Where are the donkeys? Working? The Women: They're all dead. We have lost them all during the famine and then as the rains came. Tess: But the men said you only lost a fewThe Women: What do the men know? They haven't even realised that all the donkeys have been dead for the last six months. We are now the donkeys.

So what is the relevance to our topic?

The donkeys, and the work they do, were invisible to the men and to the outside humanitarian aid workers

This is largely due to the donkeys’ association with women, who are also often invisible

As Tess says: It is not really surprising interventions go wrong or are inappropriate when nobody asks the people who are primarily involved!

http://www.animaltraction.com/4_3experiences_.htm

Women, doing the donkey work

Women – in many parts of the world – walk many miles, carrying heavy loads to fetch water for the household’s use

This ‘invisible’ work supports the livelihoods and the very existence of the household

Without the donkeys, women will have to take time out from other productive activities

This situation is all too common

http://www.itdg.org/?id=ideas_for_life