August 2008

Few would contest that the unequal allocation of the world's resources is inextricably linked to poverty. Among the world's poor, women are at an even greater disadvantage. While women perform two-thirds of the world's work hours and produce 50 percent of the world's food, they earn only 10 percent of the world's income and own less than one percent of property worldwide. Sadly, the situation in Nicaragua is consistent with this trend.

This is precisely why WCCN is proud to continue its partnership with the Foundation Among Women, or La FEM, based in Esteli. In the past year, WCCN has supported La FEM as it expands its livestock production project, thus enabling women to raise chickens pigs, cows and pelibueys (a cross between a sheep and a goat) in the patios around their homes. This project helps fulfill food and income-generating needs, and teaches women how to sustain themselves and their families by becoming small-scale producers.

The livestock production project is often the first step the women working with La FEM have taken toward economic independence. However, it is difficult for these women to take the next step. "One of the limitations we always come up against is the issue of land. It continues to be one of the main things that limits women's empowerment," says Juana Villareyna, Director of La FEM.

Juana Villareyna, on a recent trip to Madison, WI, promotes coffee produced by women's cooperatives that work with La FEM.

To address the lack of access to land, WCCN and La FEM have initiated a new project that will ultimately lead to campesinas realizing a dream they never thought was possible-owning land. Through the project, WCCN will provide La FEM funding to purchase land to begin the process. La FEM will select campesinas that have demonstrated agricultural skills and financial responsibility. Small loans will then be offered to the women to work their own parcel of land. Once a loan has been repaid, La FEM will transfer the title for the portion of the land the woman worked into her name. The repaid loan will be returned to a revolving fund, and can then be lent to other landless campesinas, thus providing a continuous source of opportunity.

The La FEM land access initiative is a new project based off of WCCN's experience gained during an earlier pilot initiative with the Rural Women's Committee in Leon. WCCN will keep you informed of future advances. Of course, this initiative would not be possible without the generous support of WCCN's members and friends. If you are interested in contributing to the empowerment of landless women, you can do so by making a donation, which is as easy as clicking on the "donate now" button and choosing to have your gift designated to this project.

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