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Skilled international volunteering - empowering women worldwide

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08 March 2011
Skilled international volunteering - empowering women worldwide

On March 8, 2011, during the 100th year of International Women's Day, Australian Volunteers International (AVI) celebrates Australian women who have volunteered to improve the lives of women worldwide and ensure gender equality in development.

In 2009/10, 62 per cent of AVI's project participants were women. AVI volunteers live, work and learn alongside individuals in communities around the globe to create a more sustainable, just and peaceful world.

Women and girls make up 60 per cent of the 1.4 billion people currently living in poverty.1

Women and girls can create lasting change if they have the opportunity to gain an education, access health services, generate an income, and take a lead in their community. By sharing a community's vision, AVI has formed long-standing partnerships throughout Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. AVI responds directly to the needs of its partners; it's a powerful, people-orientated approach to development, often woman to woman.

Study after study has taught us that there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.

No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, or to reduce infant and maternal mortality. No other policy is as sure to improve nutrition and promote health - including the prevention of HIV/AIDS. No other policy is as powerful in increasing the chances of education for the next generation

- Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General

AVI's CEO, Dimity Fifer, says gender equality is essential to reducing poverty and increasing the effectiveness of aid.

"Gender equality is also a critical development goal in its own right. Many AVI volunteers, men and women, are working in 49 countries in which AVI operates to ensure the ethos of IWD - celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future - is a value carried out in their partnerships with local communities," she said.

Every day, 1000 women die for lack of care from the almost always treatable and preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth.2

Maternal health has been a priority area AVI since our first midwife volunteered in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1965.

AVI has worked with 30 midwives who've shared their skills and knowledge with our development partners overseas.

One such AVI volunteer is midwife, Adrienne White, who is currently working in the dusty outposts along the Thai-Burma border organising a train-the-trainer program for five very experienced local midwife clinicians.

Read Adrienne's story

AVI has strong partnerships with some of the world's most reputable health care organisations including the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia and the Technical School of Medical Care in Cambodia.

Read about how AVI's volunteers are tackling maternal health

 

Interested in volunteering with AVI?
Find out more

 

1. figure courtesy CARE Australia)
2. (figure courtesy White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood)