Empowerment and Change

These articles were produced in collaboration with our delegates in Senegal for the 3rd International meeting on the Globalisation of Solidarity.  They cover the impacts of this international exchange forum which aims to position social solidarity economy in the global context.  

Women Empowerment : The Strength of Solidarity

Patti Smedley, Bridging the Divides, Port Hardy, BC, Canada

I knew African women were beautiful, but I did not know they were powerful until today. From managing their own credit union to opening community women’s centres for literacy to operating their own forestry companies – they are taking control of their futures and empowering each other for the good of all.

Strong and proud women

Gérald Tremblay, CODERR Group, Alma, Québec

In Africa, an old adage says that the women hold the weight of the continent on their shoulders. This is certainly true in Senegal, where the women are not only very beautiful, but extremely industrious.

Field visits

A question of right sized containers.

Hugh Maynard, LEAD Canada, Chealsea, Québec

 Amongst all the challenges faced by a group of women from Burkino Faso to develop their social economy enterprise to process and market skin creams from the shea nut, finding and being able to afford appropriate containers turns out to be a key element in their drive towards a more sustainable future.

Stories

Reflecting upon future generations

Alicia Canaviri, RENACC La Paz, Bolivia

 As technology improves and the global economy continues to grow, many people think only of increasing their economic wealth and don’t take human well-being into consideration. What can be done?

Stories

An Interview with Alicia Canaviri Mallcu

Félix Bussières, Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens, Clarence Creek, Ontario

In Bolivia, a number of crops are grown on a large-scale for export, especially grains and soy. We are not against this type of production, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of farming traditional crops such as quinoa