What are Convenings?
Convenings are a tool that the WHEAT Woman’s fund utilizes to bring women together. In these gatherings we create safe spaces for a community of women to share their information and learn from each other. Convenings offer a platform for women to find their voices and actively engage in pertinent topics that affect them. This is an important aspect for the movement-building agenda that the WHEAT Women’s Fund prioritises because through these sessions, women are conscientised about their rights and their options. Through convenings, women network and leverage other resources and means to support themselves socially and economically.
WHEAT holds convenings in different provinces throughout South Africa, depending on which rural and peri-urban areas have the greatest need and potential. In the last quarter, the Grants Programme has facilitated three convenings in Mpharane, Newcastle and King Williams Town. WHEAT met potential and existing grantees there, and introduced them to other government and development stakeholders.
Convenings are used as a medium to profile the WHEAT Women’s Fund and call for new applications, especially in provinces and regions where WHEAT has not supported the communities in the past.
WHEAT networks and work with a variety of people in our convenings such as other NGOs and Government Departments - health, social development and agriculture amongst others. WHEAT is not affiliated to these organizations, but facilitates access to these organizations so that women have more funding and development options.
Convenings have been instrumental in learning for our organization. WHEAT is bottom-up in her approach, and in convenings we come to understand what the real community needs are, and how these needs can be addressed. The developmental model encompassed is that women are taking control of their development and are consulted and participant in decisions that affect them.
Western Cape, Samora Machel, 11 November 2009.
The convening in the Samora Machel township was the first convening held in the Western Cape . The community attendance was commendable, and largely as a result of Mrs Ngalwane facilitation and assistance. The meeting commenced with brief introductions by both the women present as well as WHEAT staff. Sue Howell, Director for WHEAT, provided an overview of the WHEAT Women’s Fund. In summary, the WHEAT Women’s Fund is a grant making organization aimed at empowering grassroots women in communities. The primary target groups that WHEAT allocates grants to, are: women-led organizations ; in a rural or peri-urban area; who are not yet accessing formal funds; are developing women’s rights and are creating spaces for dialogue around issues such as violence against women. Sue Howell elaborated on the different types of ‘violence against women’, highlighting the importance of understanding that this includes economic injustices as a result of male dominance in the patriarchal society in which we live. She also mentioned that WHEAT supports grassroots women with small grants provided that the women are in a group that is largely constituted by women.
Eastern Cape, Mpharane, 10 January 2010.
The Wheat Women’s Fund facilitated a convening in Mpharane, a far-removed village, falling under the Matatiele District, in the Eastern Cape Province. This part of the country is characterised by considerable inaccessibility not only because of its remote geographical location, but also in terms of a general slow delivery of basic services as well as limited funding opportunities to the grassroots organisations found within that community. This area therefore, proved most appropriate and necessary for WHEAT’s entry, given that women are the sector of the population who bear the burden brought on by the social challenges posed by the environment outlined above.
KwaZulu Natal, Newcastle, 18 March 2010.
The convening in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal was hosted by Idwala Lensindiso (a WHEAT grantee from the October 2009 cycle). This convening focused on encouraging dialogue, peer learning and raising awareness on women’s rights, which are enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The WHEAT Women’s Fund utilises these gatherings as safe spaces for women to share their experiences and identify challenges in their communities pertaining to their rights. Furthermore, the women are encouraged to find solutions suitable to their context and realities.
To read more in the convening report click here.
Eastern Cape, King Williams Town, 31 March 2010.
The convening in King Williams Town was well attended. Over 30 participants from seven community organisations in the surrounding area gathered at Empilisweni HIV and AIDS Centre located in town. Miss Georgina Mgxwate was the coordinator of the convening and she notified several women’s organisations in the vicinity about the assembly. The organisations present work with HIV and AIDS, women’s reproductive rights, food security, unemployment and abuse.
