A quarter of a century of activity and achievement
on behalf of women in developing countries
has been told in ‘Empowering
Women Worldwide’, the history
of Project Five – O,
the special partnership of five major women’s
organisations, the International Federation
of University Women,
the International Federation of Business
and Professional Women, the InternationalCouncil
of Women, Soroptimist International and
Zonta International
It
all started as a response to the UN First
World Conference for Women in Mexico and
the launch of the International Decade for
Women in 1975 with its theme of Equality,
Development and Peace. It was a watershed
for women setting in motion a global sisterhood,
women working WITH women and women working
FOR women on an unprecedented scale, bringing
together the aspirations and endeavours
of individuals and organisations to improve
the lives of women everywhere. Today, the
cooperation of women, in formal and informal
partnerships, is an international force
in moving the agenda for women forward.
Out
of the 1975 activity came this very significant
partnership for the five major women’s
organisations, with their then combined
membership of 75 millions in 75 countries
which was agreed and launched formally when
they met in Copenhagen in 1980 for the Mid-Decade
Conference. It was an historic event –
the first time that a worldwide programme
had been established by a group of international
women’s organisations. (Initially,
the Associated Country Women of the World
was one of the five but left the partnership
in 1987 and was replaced in 1991 by Zonta
International). All shared a common goal,
the desire to help disadvantaged women become
educated and economically empowered.
A conference
in Copenhagen in 2005 was part of the celebrations
marking the first twenty - five years. The
second was to produce a written history
of this time with sponsorship by DANIDA,
the Danish International Development Assistance.
Sylvia Perry, a former president of BPW
International, took on the challenge of
writing the book, ‘Empowering
Women Worldwide’, the story
of women who deserve to be remembered for
posterity. While the book is foremost the
historical record of the first twenty-five
years of Project Five –O, it also
brings to life, the stories about each project,
introduces some of the outstanding women
who have made the vision of the initial
Five – O presidents a reality and
salutes the achievements of the five organisations
for their continuing interest and support.
The
total projects from the pilot scheme in
Calcutta (which continues to this day) until
September 2005 feature including the business
skills seminars in Latvia which show the
extra dimension of extending the Five –
O remit to countries in transition. Many
of the projects start with teaching basic
learning but the diversity of knowledge
and skills that they present is wide ranging
and exciting, and says much about the dedication
and outlook of the local membership of Five
– O, who implement and manage the
projects. The history illustrates how Project
Five – O not only has influenced the
lives of women and girls through the raising
of literacy skills and vocational training
but its impact has resonated through whole
communities with women’s families
also being beneficiaries
As
well as the projects on the ground, the
presidents and their organisations come
together in ‘training the trainers’
but on a major scale in their advocacy work.
‘Together we can make a difference’
is the concept behind their joint representation,
particularly at the Commission for the Status
of Women and other UN conferences. To demonstrate
this work and provide a reference source,
the book has a very large section of appendices.
Very descriptive photographs are provided
throughout. The layout/design of the text
and cover and the publication were in the
capable hands of BPW member, Jayne Handcock.
In
addition to the production being placed
on the Project Five – O and the organisations’
websites, books and CD versions are available
for sale to raise funds for further worthwhile
projects. When raising funds it is good
to remember that even small amounts make
a tremendous difference and unlike many
charitable support organisations all the
funding for Project Five – O is free
of administrative charges. This initiative
with its valuable work is worthy of your
support.
In Kofi Annan’s words “There
is no tool for development more effective
than the empowerment of women” and
Project Five –O has fulfilled, is
fulfilling and hopefully will continue to
fulfil that mission for the next twenty
– five years.
Sylvia
G Perry
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