Reaching the poor: The strength of women

Women and children are the first to suffer from poverty. Women are also a strong force in the fight against it if given the opportunity

By James B. Kimbowa, UPA

It is said that behind every prominent man there is a strong woman. But lot is still desired to utilise the strength of women so that we can have more happy families.

Some key pillars of fighting poverty are the ability to access resources and the ability to make informed decisions. Often women have not had opportunity to go to school and are not allowed to own income generating projects. In such a situation it is difficult for them to utilise their potential. It is essential that women be given an environment and opportunities to exercise their strength towards the fight against poverty.

In most developing countries over 50% of the population are women, and this is a vital human resource. Women are a great work force both for domestic and public activities. Yet often they earn an unfair pay for their working hours. Imagine if all women were paid well for all the work they do both at home and at public work places. It is likely that their families would be less poor and happier.

Working day and night

In many families the payment a wife may expect from the husband is a dress after one or two years. The patience women have in enduring hard work with more or less no pay and working under poor circumstances is remarkable.

"I normally wake up at 6:30 to prepare the children to get to school and when they have gone I get to the gardens until around noon. Then I rush back to do sanitation work at home and to prepare for the afternoon and evening meals. Often sleep takes me up while breast-feeding," says Maggie Kyolaba, 21.

This is typical of most Ugandan women. It is like working day and night. The only problem with working like this is that despite all the hard work and endurance most women are unfairly paid, many times oppressed and even not allowed to own property.

Denied opportunities

Women working for public firms or institutions are usually denied opportunity to further their education in favour of their male counterparts. Such situations do not give women opportunity to influence or make decisions on accessing available resources. They are not motivated or offered skills to improve on their influence on decision making.

For sure the reader of this article cannot be counted among the poorest persons. Because the real poor may not be able to read and write – or even have hope from reading anything.

But it is possible that the reader may be in a position to change attitude towards women. And it is possible that the reader has the ability to influence at least one family where poverty could be better dealt with if the opinion of the lady in the house is sought for.

Vision and reality

Most civil society organisations (CSO) claim to work for the poor. Well, this is a good vision. But in reality it is a task that is not easily achievable. Even religious groups cannot claim 100% on reaching out to the real poor, as the poorest may not even afford soap or a dress for the religious occasions.

Relief-giving organisations may as well find it difficult to reach the poor. Much as distribution of food or basic humanitarian items is made to the women, when these items reach home the women have no or little control of them. It all adds up in a situation where women remain vulnerable and are totally left out in the fight against poverty.

Utilise the potential

Indeed the contribution that CSOs are doing to reach out to the poor is vital. But it would be more meaningful if the potential of women is fully explored and utilised.

There could be various approaches to achieving this. For instance, attention should be paid so that resources meant for the poor are not used to acquire the fifth wife or sidelining women in managing recourses. It is vital that women are not continuously discouraged from full participation in poverty eradication with domestic violence and threats of dismissal from jobs.

Necessary changes

At family level the husband needs to ensure an environment in which the wife is able to enjoy the family property and suggest alternatives for eradicating poverty in the home.

At community level women need encouragement and respect on their income initiatives.

The CSOs should not take advantage of the plight of women to design activities that do not benefit the poor but end up in administrative cost that normally benefit a few.

And the authorities at different levels should ensure facilities and policies for health, education and respect for human rights for all communities.

When this is ensured the future women will be empowered to fight poverty. And we will all benefit – men, women and children.