Working With Community Volunteers to enhance the decision ...

Table of Contents1. Introduction 52. Background 6The need for gender equity and women’s empowermentThe Plan/FIDA programme.3. The Community Volunteers 9Community volunteers and their selectionSupport by the programmeVolunteer work in practiceThe challenge of being a woman volunteer4. Impact on women’s decision-making 13Increased knowledgeSelf-confi dence and access to justiceEconomic empowermentTaking decisions and leading outside the homeChanges among community volunteersChallenges5. Lessons learnt 20The resilience and evolution of the local cultural contextThe effi cacy of the volunteer approachProspects for sustainability6. Conclusion 24Working with Community Volunteers to Enhance theDecision-Making Powers of Women3