Latin America & Caribbean-Grassroots Academy for Women's Organizations for Networking & Strength

Grassroots Academy in Latin America and the Caribbean: An opportunity for grassroots women’s organizations to network and share knowledge, strengthening their presence in the region August 1-4, 2007 \| Lima, Peru
	The Grassroots Academy is a conference by and for grassroots women leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean to share their experiences, knowledge and skills. Among diverse women representing grassroots organizations from rural and urban areas, we will debate the political issues that form the context for our work, such as decentralization and access to land, housing and markets. The central themes are: Engaging with local and national governments to secure rights and access to land, housing and basic services Economic empowerment through communal banks, small businesses, creative marketing and various forms of micro-finance. Sustainable agriculture practices Community organizing and mobilization methods Safer Cities for women We will also develop a two-year regional plan for the continued transfer of skills and knowledge and implementation of practices. The plan will seek to transfer skills and knowledge and achieve the implementation of new practices through peer exchanges. It will also have a focus on regional political issues surrounding this work. The event will consist of dialogues and practical workshops. Participants will visit grassroots women’s programs in Lima, such as communal bank, businesses for the fabrication of housing components, popular kitchens and more. The women’s groups will share the experiences of their local organizations and will learn from the experience of other organizations. The professional allies will listen to the grassroots women and support them in the analysis and creation of an action plan. Participation in this event is limited and by invitation only. The criteria for participation are based on the goal of having a participant group of 75% grassroots leaders and 25% professional allies. Registration Fee: $125 Special consideration will be made to waive the fee if this is a limiting factor for any participant. Regional Planning Committee: Comite de Emergencia Garifuna (Honduras) - GROOTS Unión de Cooperativas las Brumas (Nicaragua) – GROOTS y Red Mujer y Paz Uniao Nacional por Moradia Popular (Brasil) – Red Mujer y Habitat Centro das Mulheres da Cabo (Brasil) The Local Planning Commitee: Central de los Bancos Comunales (con el apoyo de SEA) Mujeres Unidas para un Pueblo Mejor (con el apoyo de Estrategia) The following Member Networks of the Huairou Commissioin have representatives that are participating in and supporting the process: FEMUM (Federación de mujeres municipalistas – ALC) GROOTS International Red Mujer y Habitat – Latinoamérica y el Caribe Red Mujer y Paz

Grassroots Academy in Latin America and the Caribbean:
An opportunity for grassroots women’s organizations to network and share knowledge, strengthening their presence in the region
August 1-4, 2007 | Lima, Peru

The Grassroots Academy is a conference by and for grassroots women leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean to share their experiences, knowledge and skills. Among diverse women representing grassroots organizations from rural and urban areas, we will debate the political issues that form the context for our work, such as decentralization and access to land, housing and markets. The central themes are:

Engaging with local and national governments to secure rights and access to land, housing and basic services
Economic empowerment through communal banks, small businesses, creative marketing and various forms of micro-finance.
Sustainable agriculture practices
Community organizing and mobilization methods
Safer Cities for women

We will also develop a two-year regional plan for the continued transfer of skills and knowledge and implementation of practices. The plan will seek to transfer skills and knowledge and achieve the implementation of new practices through peer exchanges. It will also have a focus on regional political issues surrounding this work.

The event will consist of dialogues and practical workshops. Participants will visit grassroots women’s programs in Lima, such as communal bank, businesses for the fabrication of housing components, popular kitchens and more.

The women’s groups will share the experiences of their local organizations and will learn from the experience of other organizations. The professional allies will listen to the grassroots women and support them in the analysis and creation of an action plan.

Participation in this event is limited and by invitation only. The criteria for participation are based on the goal of having a participant group of 75% grassroots leaders and 25% professional allies.

Registration Fee: $125
Special consideration will be made to waive the fee if this is a limiting factor for any participant.

Regional Planning Committee:

Comite de Emergencia Garifuna (Honduras) - GROOTS
Unión de Cooperativas las Brumas (Nicaragua) – GROOTS y Red Mujer y Paz
Uniao Nacional por Moradia Popular (Brasil) – Red Mujer y Habitat
Centro das Mulheres da Cabo (Brasil)

The Local Planning Commitee:

Central de los Bancos Comunales (con el apoyo de SEA)
Mujeres Unidas para un Pueblo Mejor (con el apoyo de Estrategia)

The following Member Networks of the Huairou Commissioin have representatives that are participating in and supporting the process:

FEMUM (Federación de mujeres municipalistas – ALC)
GROOTS International
Red Mujer y Habitat – Latinoamérica y el Caribe
Red Mujer y Paz