What role should men take in helping to empower women?

ICT access for women in rural communities?

empowerment of women in african communities is only possible when they are provided with alternatives...to better health care, job opportunites, education. The basis of this would then be enhanced access to information and communication technology. what is the best approach in providing this to women especially in the rural communities?

Some questions to spark conversation:

1. What are some of the challenges that you face as a woman and how do you deal with them?

2. Who is your favorite female celebrity/author/musician/politician and why?

3. Do you think that gender issues are being dealt with in the right way in Kenya/USA? What would you do to change them?

4. Do you think that there are enough women in positions of power? If not, what changes should be made?

5. Does Kenyan/American culture promote gender equality? Why or why not?

Kajulu Community Photos

Kajulu community playing around Orphans under Okok Widows Group's care
Moringa seed being pressed for oil by Okok Widows Group
Members of Okok Widow's Group

MDG # 3

United Nations Millennium Development Goal 3:

To promote gender equality and empower women

-A baby born to an educated woman has a much better chance of surviving until adulthood. In fact, for every year women are educated, their children's mortality goes down by 8%.
Educated girls are also more likely to have their own children immunised, and are less likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases.

-Of the 100 million children in the world who have never been to school, two out of every three are girls.

(from Guardian Unlimited Wednesday September 7, 2005)

To view photograpghs respresenting the MDGs visit... http://www.guardian.co.uk/millenniumgoals/0,16440,1560528,00.html

Welcome to Abila Creative Center Women's Forum

Abila Creative Center, located in Kisumu in Western Kenya, focuses on improving the livelihoods of women and youth in the community through capacity building, creative expression and access to ICT. Through film, photography and writing, Abila seeks to give people a new medium to express their voice. This blog was set up with the intention to promote women and girls to voice their opinions, hopes and dreams about whatever concerns them, whether it be gender issues, politics or health. With time, this blog will hopefully foster debate, conversation and sharing throughout Kenya and the world. The best way to learn is to share. Feel free to voice your opinion, pose questions, post pictures and share this blog with anyone that you think would benefit from it. The primary guideline of this blog is to respect this opportunity and other people's opinion. Enjoy!