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OUR MISSION
MYWO believes in uplifting and empowering women as a means of alleviating poverty and creating a better environment and quality of life for all.
OUR VISION
MYWO has a forward looking vision of a society in which equality, peace, justice and unity prevail. |
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MYWO PARTNERS IN ENERGY TREE PROJECT
National Chairman of MYWO pictured with the right honourable Prime Minister Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, Minister for Energy Hon. Kiraitu Murungi, Minister for Gender & Children Hon. Esther Murugi Mathenge and other officials at the launch of ‘KEEP’
Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) National Chairman Mrs. Rukia Subow, yesterday on the 9th June 2008 led the organization in taking part in the launch of Keep Energy Sector Environment Programme (KEEP) by the Ministry of Energy, which is set to carry out among other things, an Energy Tree Project. The project entails growing of trees KPLC power transmissions poles, Soil and Water Catchment Conservation, Wood fuel and investigating the potential for Biodiesel of which MYWO is a partner.
The auspicious occasion at KICC was graced by the presence of the Right Honorable Prime Minister Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga, the Minister of Energy Hon. Kiraitu Murungi, Minister for Gender and Children Hon. Esther Murugi Mathenge, several Permanent Secretaries, CEO’s of various Energy related parastatals, MP’s, all MYWO elected national and NEC officials, the Executive Director Mrs. Bernadette Musundi and MYWO’s members drawn mainly from Nairobi Province.
In their speeches, all the chief guests acknowledged the need of having women on board such a project in order for it to succeed. The Prime Minister stated that the face of poverty in this country is reflected by that of a woman due to her multiple roles and thus energy solutions would be of great assistance to them. Hon. Kiraitu urged women to wholeheartedly embrace the energy tree project so as to save the country millions of shillings used in importation of poles every year. The Minister for Gender further emphasized that there was no other women group with massive countrywide coverage as MYWO. In her speech she said, “If you want to pass across a message to women all over this country in record time, MYWO are the people to use”. Hon. Mathenge further stressed on the need for adequate gender balance in the composition of the top management of the energy sector parastatals.
Women in Kenya face huge difficulties identifying profitable Income Generating Activities. With the implementation of the Energy Tree Project, by the Ministry of Energy in conjunction with Africa Harvest and other key partners including Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), women will be able to take advantage of the market demands for wood-fuel and electricity posts thus providing an avenue for economic empowerment.
Through the education of our field coordinators, Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), which has an extensive membership network, would be more than capable in providing mobilization support for the Energy Tree Project. MYWO will undertake activities that promote community participation, particularly the involvement of minority groups, especially women and building local capacities to manage ‘Energy Tree’ programmes.
The aim of MYWO is to ensure the replanting of these trees in order to provide a sustainable source of wood for the future, as well as train and empower women to sustainably manage their environment and thus reduce poverty. Women and the communities within which they live will also benefit from an abundant supply of sustainably produced, locally sourced, wood. In addition, agriculture in the areas identified for this project will benefit from the usage of agro-forestry trees which will help improve soil fertility.
We envisage the creation of community tree nurseries, run and managed by women, each growing thousands of trees per year. The project will only work with the help and co-operation of the Chiefs and their local communities.
The project is expected to cover all the eight provinces countrywide. MYWO’s contribution will be to meet community Opinion Leaders and Chiefs in the target areas, create awareness through training on tree nursery, compost training, supply/distribution of basic tree nursery equipment, polythene tubes and seeds to the grassroots. They will also establish tree nurseries and monitor them. MYWO will give localised training, help to plan planting out programme and the actual planting out plus provide training and care for the newly planted out seedlings.
The Energy Tree Planting Project is a very exciting venture for the women of this country who will greatly reap from this initiative. MYWO looks forward to making a major positive impact towards this project.
