Recognising Women Farmers
In 2010/11 BIEDO worked with indigenous women to develop micro-enterprise initiatives and grow capacity in business management (focussed on their enterprise goals). Funding for this proejct is from the Australian Government Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under "Australia's Farming Future".
'AWEsome' Women of Eidsvold: (9 participants)
Two Eidsvold women came forward during a 'yarning circle' organised by DEEDI & expressed a vision to establish a women's indigenous cultural centre to display and sell their art and craft and run workshops. A subsequent meeting to gauge interest among the wider community saw nine women express excitement about the idea. The women talked about the skills they had, the skills they need, and logistics of pulling it together.
They aim to include in the centre, a retreat/workshop where the women can work on their art in peace and safety, pass on traditional knowledge to the younger women, and also strengthen community networks and connectivity. In short, the vision for the proposed centre includes both economic and community goals. All of the women are doing some IT literacy work, consistent with personal and professional. They have signed up with a skills training provider which delivers remote training in IT literacy, and multi-media. This training will start in 2011. The time spent with this group to date has been used to establish a good working relationship, and to determine the ways in which we can support the women to achieve their business goals.
Key Outcomes
Nine women involved. Four meetings focussed on concept planning, business planning and leadership development. The women have sourced and renovated a building to use as their Women's Cultural Centre from where they'll sell and demonstrate their arts and crafts.
Benefits- The women involved are taking action themselves to initiate businesses that will lead to economic and personal wellbeing. They have identified the enterprise initiatives themselves and their 'passion' projects.
