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Social situationThe town of Kedougou and surrounding urban areas have a strong voluntary sectorincluding Economic Interest Groups, (EIGs), Women’s Advancement Groups (WAGs)and women’s associations.Often constituted by an individual who then brings on various members of the familyto hold different posts, these women’s organizations are plagued by poor credibility.Even so, efforts are being made in the area of education of young women with theestablishment of the Regional Centre for the Technical Education of Women (CRETF),which offers skills training in a range of areas such as tailoring, catering, hairdressing,dyeing, the processing of agricultural products, etc.In general, women carry out household chores and income generating activities (IGA),combining productive, reproductive and women’s community management roles,the latter two being predominant. Their main income generating activities are retail,market gardening, small-scale livestock rearing, processing agricultural and forestryproducts and dyeing. Nonetheless, according to the 2010-2011 EDS-MICS report,59% of economically active women independently decide how to use their income,unlike the remaining 40% who have to gain their husband’s approval.In parallel with IGA, women organize outreach sessions in neighbourhoods on earlymarriage and pregnancy, schooling for children, especially girls, and their retention ineducation, reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STI andSTD), etc.Men make up the majority of members of community and state decision-makingbodies. They exercise productive and political activities. The main activities in thearea revolve around gold-mining. During the winter season, men also take part inagricultural activities.BackgroundMenstruation and MHM ​are remain a taboo​in ​society in​Kedougou​,​ even within women.In the photo, Veronique and Leontine at Veronique’s home in Indaar.11