Association for the Advancement of Women in Gaoua
The APFG has been working since 1992 to integrate the women of Gaoua into the process of economic, social and cultural development in order to improve their living conditions. We strive to identify and study the obstacles to the development of women, such as traditional practices harmful to the health of women and girls. Our primary objective is to contribute to the education and awareness of women to defend their rights and those of their children. We are always happy to work in exchange with other women's and development organisations.
We work mainly on:
Economically
The APFG intends to work to improve the status of women in order to raise them to the rank of accomplished citizens, who earn a living with dignity, who are recognized and accepted as such in their community.
o Theater: means of raising awareness for the APFG (soaps, basketry, pottery, etc.)
o Shea butter
o Cabarets
o The sale of soya skewers: every day groups of women prepare skewers made from soya in order to sell them at the end of the day.
o Micro Credit
Social
Details The fight against excision Since its creation, the APFG has undertaken wide awareness campaigns against excision, since 1992 the APFG has contributed to the retraining of 33 circumcisers in the Province of Poni and to the deposit of knives in the museum of Gaoua by ex-excisors in 2004. Another of the successes of the association in this field is the creation of the association “Si Fares Kala” which means in lobiri “the abandonment of knives”.
o Training of out-of-school girls
o Strengthening the professional skills of women
o The fight against excision
o Raise awareness of the importance of contraception
o Sponsorship of underprivileged children
Culturally
Address planning and development issues.
o Theater: means of raising awareness for the APFG (soaps, basketry, pottery, etc.)
o Organization of cultural days in urban and rural areas
o Participation in radio programs to reach a large audience.
Environmentally speaking
Popularization of improved stoves, production of nurseries.
o Popularization of improved stoves and gas in order to reduce wood consumption
o The production of nurseries of several species of trees: More than a dozen spaces are produced. The largest nursery is in Gaoua and is maintained by the APFG environmental team. A few nurseries exist in the villages and are maintained by village women.
o Reforestation and the creation of green spaces: Green spaces are created thanks to nurseries.